Washington, Oct 16 : Increased exposure to secondhand smoke can result in heart disease in nonsmoking adults, says a new study.

The study, titled Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects, reviewed available scientific literature to assess the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and acute coronary events.

The authors, experts in secondhand smoke exposure and toxicology, clinical cardiology, epidemiology, and statistics, found that there is about a 25 to 30 percent increase in the risk of coronary heart disease from exposure to secondhand smoke.

The findings come in line with the 2006 Surgeon General''s Report conclusion that there are increased risks of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality among men and women exposed to secondhand smoke.

However, the authors have pointed out that the evidence for determining the magnitude of the relationship between chronic secondhand smoke exposure and coronary heart disease is not very strong.

Public health professionals will rely upon the study for its survey of critical epidemiological studies on the effects of smoking bans and evidence of links between secondhand smoke exposure and cardiovascular events, as well as its findings and recommendations. (ANI)