What term describes the act of coming into contact with tobacco smoke?

The term that best describes the act of coming into contact with tobacco smoke is exposure. This term encompasses the idea of being in the vicinity of tobacco smoke, whether through direct inhalation or secondary inhalation from someone smoking nearby. Exposure implies that an individual can be affected by the chemicals in tobacco smoke without necessarily smoking themselves. It highlights the health risks associated not only with active smoking but also with the surrounding environment where tobacco smoke is present.

While consumption refers more to the act of ingesting a substance, and use signifies the act of utilizing or engaging with tobacco products directly, exposure specifically focuses on the interaction with tobacco smoke in any form. Inhalation is the process of breathing in, but it does not capture the broader concept of contact that exposure entails. Thus, exposure is the most accurate term for this context.