Secondhand Smoke

Research

Smoking bans help curb kids' severe asthma attacks
A new study shows that smokefree laws prevent children from being hospitalized for asthma. Asthma-related hospitalizations among children dropped 13% a year after the March 2006 public smoking ban was implemented in Scotland. Researchers used hospital records to identify hospital admissions for asthma in children under age fifteen between 2000 and 2009, covering time periods both before and after law went into effect. Prior to the ban, hospital admissions for asthma attacks were increasing by an average of 5.2% each year, and after the ban, the rate decreased by 13% each year on average. These results are consistent with those of previous smaller studies, indicating that comprehensive smokefree policies have substantial health benefits, even among those who would not have occupational exposure to secondhand smoke. Click here to read more, or here to read the abstract of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A prospective cohort study of biomarkers of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure: The correlation between serum and meconium and their association with infant birth weight
A new study published in Environmental Health suggests that infant meconium (a newborn’s earliest stools) can be used to reliably measure prenatal tobacco smoke exposure. Researchers analyzed infant meconium samples and three maternal serum samples from each of 337 mother-infant pairs to detect biological products of tobacco smoke exposure and estimate the duration and intensity of prenatal smoke exposure. They found that concentrations of tobacco smoke metabolites in the infants’ meconium were associated with serum cotinine concentrations from the mothers. As the number of serum cotinine measurements reflecting maternal smoke exposure or smoking increased, the greater the concentrations of smoke metabolite in their children’s meconium. This indicates that meconium can be used to measure the intensity and duration of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure, and may be useful in measuring other environmental toxicants, as well. Click here to read the study abstract.

Secondhand smoke in alfresco areas
A new study indicates that smoking in outdoor areas of restaurants produces levels of fine particulate matter that could induce respiratory symptoms. Researchers measured concentrations of fine particulate matter in outdoor areas of 28 cafes and pubs in Australia, also collecting data on the number of smokers present and other factors that could affect these concentrations. The results showed that fine particulate matter concentrations were higher when there was at least one smoker present compared to when there were no smokers present. As the number of smokers present increased, so did the mean concentration of fine particulate matter; mean concentrations were 3.98 µg/m3 with no smokers present, 10.59 µg/m3 with one smoker, and 17.00 µg/m3 with two or more smokers. The average concentration of fine particulate matter with two or more smokers in an outdoor area reached a level the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says could put particularly sensitive people at risk of having respiratory symptoms, suggesting that allowing smoking in outdoor areas of cafes could be a health hazard. Click here to read the study abstract, published in the Health Promotion Journal of Australia.

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Reports

Nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke - United States, 1999-2008
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on the prevalence of nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke in the United States. Data from the 1999 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were used to determine how many nonsmokers had serum cotinine levels above 0.05 ng/ml (indicating tobacco smoke exposure), whether a smoker lived in the household, and demographic information. Analysis showed that the number of nonsmokers exposed to smoke decreased significantly from 52.5% in 1999-2000 to 40.1% in 2007-2008, with significant declines among each age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income group except for non-Hispanic whites. Throughout the entire study period, the prevalence of smoke exposure was highest among males, non-Hispanic blacks, children and youth aged 3 to 19, and those living in households below the federal poverty level. The overall drop in secondhand smoke exposure is attributed to decreased smoking prevalence, increases in smokefree indoor laws and voluntary smoking restrictions, and changes in social norms regarding smoking near nonsmokers and children. Despite the overall progress, about 88 million nonsmokers were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2007-2008, demonstrating the need for smokefree policies that cover public and private indoor spaces. Click here to read the full report.

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