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Secondhand Smoke
Research
Professor publishes study on tobacco smoke and learning disabilities
Children exposed to prenatal and environmental tobacco smoke are almost three times more likely to have learning disabilities than non-exposed children, a new study shows. The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 1999-2002, investigating the association between smoke exposure and learning disabilities in 5420 children aged 4-15. The results show that children of mothers that smoked during pregnancy were 1.6 times more likely to have learning disabilities; children exposed to secondhand smoke only were also 1.6 times more likely to have learning disabilities. Additionally, children exposed to both types of smoke were found to be 2.6 times more likely to report a learning disability than non-exposed children. The researchers suggest further work be done to determine cause and effect of this association. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing.
Exposure to tobacco smoke in childhood home associated with early emphysema in adulthood
A population-based study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that children who are exposed to tobacco smoke at home are at an increased risk of developing early emphysema. Higher levels of smoke exposure were associated with greater risk, and the effect remained significant after adjusting for demographic, anthropometric, participant, and parental factors, as well as adult exposures. CT scans revealed detectable differences in of the lungs of study subjects who were exposed to secondhand smoke as children, compared to the lungs of adult nonsmokers. Read more here. Click here to read the abstract of the study, which is published in the December 2009 American Journal of Epidemiology.
Study: Secondhand smoke disrupts asthmatic kids’ sleep
Asthmatic children who are exposed to secondhand smoke tend to have poorer sleep and more drowsiness during the day than those who are not, according to a new study published in the February 2010 issue of Pediatrics. Researchers studied 219 asthmatic children aged 6 to 12 years, interviewing their parents about the children’s sleep habits, asthma severity, and exposure to secondhand smoke and analyzing blood samples for cotinine to measure tobacco smoke exposure. Children who were exposed to secondhand smoke were more likely than those who were not exposed to have trouble falling asleep, nighttime breathing symptoms, and other problems such as sleepwalking and nightmares. Childhood sleep disturbances can cause attention and behavior problems and poor school performance, so it is likely that these problems are indirectly linked to secondhand smoke exposure. Click here to read more, or read the study abstract.
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Reports
The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation’s smokefree lists, maps, and data
The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) has released the first quarterly update of 2010 to its smokefree reports, lists and maps. As of January 5, 41% of all Americans are currently protected by 100% smokefree laws in workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Lists and maps are available on the website that detail state and municipality ordinance laws and smokefree policies for specific venues (such as hospitals, universities and stadiums) and outdoor areas. Visit the ANR website to learn more.
Smoking ban in Duluth low-income housing promotes health (MN)
The Duluth Housing and Rehabilitation Authority has passed a smokefree policy in high rise low-income housing buildings that will go into effect starting in May 2010. The ban will prohibit smoking in the buildings, including in private units and on balconies. People must be 25 feet away from doors or windows to smoke. The American Lung Association in Minnesota supports the ban, saying it will prevent residents of the high rises from being exposed to secondhand smoke through shared ventilation. Click here to read more.
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International
Smoking ban linked to drop in heart attacks (Switzerland)
A smoking ban that went into effect in Graubünden, Switzerland in March 2008 may have been responsible for a 22% decrease in myocardial infarctions. The drop is mainly due to fewer heart attacks among nonsmokers, who may have up to a 30% heightened chance of heart attack when exposed to secondhand smoke. While causality cannot be proven, there does appear to be a strong link between the ban and the drop in heart attacks, as smokefree policy studies worldwide have achieved similar results. A meta-analysis of ten other studies showed that the overall risk of heart attacks decreased an average of 17% in the first year after a ban has started. Read more here or click here to read the study in the journal Swiss Medical Weekly.
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