Secondhand Smoke

Research

Secondhand smoke damages arteries in teens: study
Researchers in Finland have found that youth exposed to secondhand smoke have visibly thicker arteries than those that are not exposed, indicating atherosclerosis damage. Children aged 8 to 13 were grouped by level of smoke exposure based on blood measurements of cotinine. The thickness of the aorta and carotid artery were measured, arm artery flexibility was measured, and cholesterol tests were performed to determine the level of damage. Children in the high-exposure group had carotid artery walls 7% thicker and aortas 8% thicker than those in the low-exposure group; the high-exposure group also had 15% lower measurements of artery flexibility and unhealthier levels of cholesterol. The study suggests that even low levels of exposure to secondhand smoke can be damaging to children’s blood vessels. Click here to read more or here to read the abstract of the study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

An intervention to reduce environmental tobacco smoke exposure improves pregnancy outcomes
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics indicates that cognitive-behavioral interventions may be useful in decreasing secondhand smoke exposure in black pregnant women. Researchers randomized 691 women that reported having environmental smoke exposure to receive tailored counseling sessions (intervention group) or routine prenatal care (control group) in order to determine if the counseling would decrease smoke exposure. The results showed that secondhand smoke exposure, very low birth weight, and very preterm births were less common in the intervention group, demonstrating that it may help to reduce reproductive outcome health disparities. Click here to read the abstract of the study.

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International

Trends in and predictors of second-hand smoke exposure indexed by cotinine in children in England from 1996 to 2006 (England)
A recent study used data from eight annual surveys conducted over 11 years to determine predictors and trends in secondhand smoke exposure in English children 4-15 years old, and also to see if inequalities associated with secondhand smoke exposure have changed over time. The study found that the most important predictors of secondhand smoke exposure in English children were modifiable factors, such as whether adults frequently smoke in the house and if parents or caregivers smoked. Children’s exposure dropped 59% over 11 years, with the most notable decline preceding the implementation of smokefree legislation. Children from disadvantaged households remain more exposed than others. Click here to read the abstract, published in Addiction.

Effects of passive smoking on the young costing NHS £23.3m a year (United Kingdom)
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has released the first report assessing the impact of secondhand smoke on children and costs to the National Health Service (NHS), finding significant health and financial consequences. Passive smoking results in over 300,000 children visiting the doctor and 9500 being admitted to the hospital per year for asthma and wheezing, chest infections, ear infections, and meningitis. About £23.3 million is spent per year on treating youth for disease related to secondhand smoke, with £9.7 million spent on doctor’s visits, £13.6 million on hospital admissions, and £4 million on asthma medications. The RCP hopes that this report will inform policy decisions about extending smoking bans to protect children from passive smoking. Click here to read more about the report, or view more information on the RCP website.

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