INTRODUCTION: The health effects on young children of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) are well described. Recent work suggests that over one quarter of school-aged children in Scotland are regularly exposed to SHS in the home. The study was designed to describe SHS exposure in preschool children whose mothers smoked and identify factors that influence exposure. METHODS: Smoking mothers with at least one child aged 1-5 years were recruited to the Reducing Families' Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in the Home study. Concentrations of airborne particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in size (PM(2.5)) in the home were measured together with child's salivary cotinine. Demographics including age, accommodation type, socioeconomic status, and number of cigarettes smoked at home were recorded. RESULTS: Data were collected from 54 homes. In 89% of the homes, concentrations of PM(2.5) exceeded health-based guidance values at some point of the day. Household PM(2.5) concentrations were highest during the evening hours of 6 p.m. to midnight. Younger children had higher salivary cotinine concentrations than older children, and the geometric mean of salivary cotinine was 2.36 ng/ml. Household smoking restrictions and maternal confidence in enforcing smoking restrictions in their own home were strongly associated with child's SHS exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool children's exposure to SHS in homes where the mother smokes is considerable. Interventions and policy development to increase parental awareness of the health effects of SHS and provide parents with the confidence to implement smoke-free households are required to reduce the SHS exposure of preschool age children.
INTRODUCTION: The health effects on young children of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) are well described. Recent work suggests that over one quarter of school-aged children in Scotland are regularly exposed to SHS in the home. The study was designed to describe SHS exposure in preschool children whose mothers smoked and identify factors that influence exposure. METHODS: Smoking mothers with at least one child aged 1-5 years were recruited to the Reducing Families' Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in the Home study. Concentrations of airborne particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in size (PM(2.5)) in the home were measured together with child's salivary cotinine. Demographics including age, accommodation type, socioeconomic status, and number of cigarettes smoked at home were recorded. RESULTS: Data were collected from 54 homes. In 89% of the homes, concentrations of PM(2.5) exceeded health-based guidance values at some point of the day. Household PM(2.5) concentrations were highest during the evening hours of 6 p.m. to midnight. Younger children had higher salivary cotinine concentrations than older children, and the geometric mean of salivary cotinine was 2.36 ng/ml. Household smoking restrictions and maternal confidence in enforcing smoking restrictions in their own home were strongly associated with child's SHS exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool children's exposure to SHS in homes where the mother smokes is considerable. Interventions and policy development to increase parental awareness of the health effects of SHS and provide parents with the confidence to implement smoke-free households are required to reduce the SHS exposure of preschool age children.
Authors: Vaughan W Rees; Robyn R Keske; Kevin Blaine; David Aronstein; Ediss Gandelman; Vilma Lora; Clara Savage; Alan C Geller Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-04-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Alexander I Stiby; John Macleod; Matthew Hickman; Vikki L Yip; Nicholas J Timpson; Marcus R Munafò Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2013-07-23 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Regina Grazuleviciene; Sandra Andrusaityte; Inga Uzdanaviciute; Jolanta Kudzyte; Rimantas Kevalas; Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-07-06 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Westley L Fallavollita; Elizabeth K Do; Julia C Schechter; Scott H Kollins; Junfeng Jim Zheng; Jian Qin; Rachel L Maguire; Cathrine Hoyo; Susan K Murphy; Bernard F Fuemmeler Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-14 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Hayfaa A Wahabi; Rasmieh A Alzeidan; Amel A Fayed; Ahmed Mandil; Ghadeer Al-Shaikh; Samia A Esmaeil Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-04-15 Impact factor: 3.295