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Aims Prospective memory ( PM: remembering future intentions and activities) is critical to everyday remembering. This study compared a group of never-smokers who reported regular exposure to second-hand smoke (the SHS group) with a group of current smokers (the CS group) and a group of never-smokers who reported never having been exposed to SHS (the non- SHS group) on objective PM. Design An existing groups design was employed to compare the SHS, CS and non- SHS groups. Participants and setting Twenty-four SHS, 27 CS and 28 non- SHS were tested on objective PM. All participants were university undergraduates aged between 18-30 years. All participants were tested individually in a laboratory setting. Measurements The Cambridge Prospective Memory Test ( CAMPROMPT) was used to assess objective PM. Age, other drug use, mood and IQ were also measured as covariates in the study. Findings The non- SHS group recalled significantly more time-based PM tasks than the SHS group (means = 16.3 versus 13.7, P < 0.001) and significantly more than the CS group ( CS mean = 11.6, P < 0.001); and the SHS group recalled significantly more time-based tasks than the CS group ( P < 0.002). The non- SHS group recalled significantly more event-based PM tasks than the CS group (means = 15.2 versus 11.3, P < 0.002) with no significant difference between the non- SHS group and SHS group ( SHS mean = 14.3, P = 0.234); and the SHS group recalled significantly more event-based tasks than the CS group ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke may suffer impairment in time-based prospective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]