- Passive smoking is the involuntary breathing in of other people's cigarette/tobacco smoke
- Women and children are more susceptible to illnesses related to passive smoking, possibly due to smaller airways than men
- Over 40% of British children live in a home where at least one person smokes
- Parents who smoke should be aware that not only are their children more likely to smoke themselves because the parents smoke but may become ill as a result of breathing in airborne cigarette smoke
- 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital every year with illnesses resulting from passive smoking
A study carried out in America recently, reported that second-hand smoke shaves points off the IQ of a child, and that even those exposed to small amounts of cigarette smoke have slightly lower cognitive abilities. The study claims "These levels may not be meaningful for an individual child, but they have huge implications for our society because millions of children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke," said Kimberly Yolton of Cincinnati Children's Medical Center in Ohio. Yolton's team looked at cotinine levels in the blood of 4399 children aged between 6 and 16.
Other major reviews on passive smoking have been published. These include studies by the UK Government-appointed Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health, a World Health Organization (WHO) consultation report on Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Child Health, and a report by the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which identified passive smoking as a risk factor for the following:
Childbirth and infancy:
- Low birthweight
- Cot death (SIDS)
Illnesses in children:
- Middle ear infection
- Asthma (induction and exacerbation)
- Bronchitis (induction and exacerbation)
- Pneumonia (induction and exacerbation)
Illnesses in adults:- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Lung cancer
- Nasal cancer
The California EPA report also identified a link between passive smoking and the following:- Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)
- Adverse impact on learning and behavioural development in children
- Meningococcal infections in children
- Cancers and leukaemia in children
- Asthma exacerbation in adults
- Exacerbation of cystic fibrosis
- Decreased lung function
- Cervical cancer
Armed with this information, surely we as parents and carers should take greater care with our children and whilst we cannot eliminate the possibility of a child being exposed to cigarette smoke, we can certainly try to reduce it. Here are a few pointers to think about, whether we are smokers ourselves or know people who smoke.
- If you are a smoker, try to smoke only outside. If you must smoke inside limit smoking to a room where you can open windows to allow adequate ventilation
- Never smoke in a child’s bedroom and do not allow anyone else to smoke there
- Do not smoke while you are washing, dressing or playing with your child
- Never smoke in the car with the windows closed, and never smoke in the car when children are present
Certain information in this article was supplied to familyrapp by Ash - Action on Smoking and Health
Further reading on passive smoking:
Additional articles in familyrapp
World Health Organisation Tobacco Free Initiative
BBC Health Information
US Environmental Protection Agency
The Health Effects of Passive Smoking - Australia
Repace - Secondhand smoke consultants Fact Sheet
Smoke Free Europe
