HEALTH : Children of Smokers Face Risk

Nonsmokers who grew up with smoking parents face double the usual risk of lung cancer, according to a study that provides new evidence of the dangers of secondhand smoke.

The report estimates that 17% of all lung cancer in the United States among people who never smoked cigarettes results from their exposure to smokers during childhood and adolescence.

“Here is another piece of evidence that smoke from other people’s cigarettes is harmful to your health. This is the first finding that indicates that exposure early in life may be particularly important,” said Dr. Dwight T. Janerich of Yale School of Medicine, who directed the study.