Content Summary : The effects of passive smoke exposure on respiratory health are still under debate.Therefore, we examined the risk of respiratory symptoms related to passive smoke exposureamong German adults within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.Methods: The questionnaire data of the population-based sample (n 1,890) were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression models were carried out for current asthma (asthma symptoms ormedication), chronic bronchitis (cough with phlegm for > 3 months per year), and wheezing asdependent variables, and self-reported exposure to passive smoke at home and at the workplaceas independent variables after adjusting for city, age, gender, active smoking, and socioeconomicstatus as well as occupational exposure to dusts and/or gases.Results: The relative odds for chronic bronchitis were significantly higher in subjects reportinginvoluntary tobacco smoke exposure in the workplace (odds ratio [OR], 1.90; 95% confidenceinterval [CI], 1.16 to 3.11). Likewise, the adjusted OR for asthma was slightly elevated (OR, 1.51;95% CI, 0.99 to 2.32). The risk of chronic bronchitis (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.56 to 6.06), asthma (OR,2.06; 95% CI, 1.07 to 3.97), and wheezing (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.25 to 3.58) increased significantlywith a daily exposure of > 8 h.Conclusion: The control of passive smoke exposure in the workplace might reduce the risk ofrespiratory symptoms independently of exposure to other airborne contaminants.