Health Effects Related to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children in the United States

Abstract

We investigated recent ETS exposures as important predictors of respiratory health outcomes in children 4 years and older. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure affects children of all ages, although the exact effects may vary between age groups.

Effect of secondhand smoke on asthma control among black and Latino children

“…This potential mechanism is consistent with our finding that the association between poor asthma control and in utero smoking is stronger for children who were exposed during the first trimester (Table II), though the reliability of trimester-specific estimates may be compromised by the low number of children exposed within a given trimester of pregnancy. The lack of a robust association between poor asthma control and current SHS exposure in our study is consistent with reports in the literature 26–29 that the contribution of SHS is more prominent among younger children. Mannino and colleagues, 26 for example, report that asthma prevalence in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was associated with biomarker-determined tobacco smoke exposure among 4- to 6-year-olds but not among older children.…”

“…The lack of a robust association between poor asthma control and current SHS exposure in our study is consistent with reports in the literature 26–29 that the contribution of SHS is more prominent among younger children. Mannino and colleagues, 26 for example, report that asthma prevalence in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was associated with biomarker-determined tobacco smoke exposure among 4- to 6-year-olds but not among older children. A review of longitudinal studies of asthma incidence has also reported a stronger association with SHS among younger children than for older children.…”

Secondhand Smoke Induces Inflammation and Impairs Immunity to Respiratory Infections

“…7A) and the vaccination efficacy was evaluated by measuring anti-P6 Ab titers. Immunization with P6 antigen induced a robust response in air-exposed mice as previously reported (25, 34), with the development of high titer antibodies in the serum and BAL (Fig. 7B–C).…”

Beyond cigarettes: waterpipe tobacco use as a key driver of paediatric asthma in Jordan

“…This was not consistent with previous data that supported a relationship between postnatal exposures to parental cigarette smoking and asthma in children 22 23. Still, it was also reported that the extent of parental cigarette smoking on children developing respiratory disorders remains inconsistent as studies have tended to support a stronger effect of prenatal exposure to cigarette smoking than postnatal secondhand smoke exposure on lower respiratory illnesses 24–26. This is, however, not the case for parental waterpipe use.…”