Review of Epidemiology in Relation to Passive Smoking

Relation between lead and cadmium in blood and the involuntary smoking of children.

“…It is well known that children exposed to tobacco smoke suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia more frequently than children of nonsmokers (17). Moreover, tobacco smoke can inactivate alveolar macrophage tissue transglutaminase, which may, hypothetically, decrease the phagocytosis of lead particles in the alveoli (Stenberg, personal communication).…”

Effects of exposure to smoking on the microbial flora of children and their parents

“…Children indirectly exposed to cigarette smoke have increased colonization rate by pathogens and enhanced risk for respiratory tract infections including otitis media [1] as well as meningococcal meningitis [2,3]. Adults who smoke are at an increased risk of respiratory tract infections [1] and oral colonization by potentially pathogenic bacteria [1,4,5].…”

Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Disease

“…There are animal data (ETSexposed rats) that tobacco smoke damages the airway mucosa, but only limited human data: a few studies have shown significantly increased IgE levels in ETS-exposed children as compared with children of non-smokers, al though in Dr. Willers' own work the difference was not statistically significant [6]. ETS exposure is associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory infections of children [7], although the mechanism of this association is not established. Other common pollutants in indoor air are glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde, which are sus pected allergens and established irritants, although at tempts to implicate an IgE-mediated mechanism have failed.…”