Status and correlates of children's exposure to secondhand smoke at home: A survey in Chongqing, China

Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke on Oxidative Stress in Childhood: A Human Biomonitoring Study

Household smoking is one of the main sources of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure for children, a population considered to be at high risk for associated negative health outcomes. Several studies evidenced the occurrence of early effects related to ETS exposure, including the development of the oxidative stress process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between urinary levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8oxodGuo), a nucleic acid oxidation biomarker, and socio-demographic features and lifestyle factors in school children (aged 5-11 years). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 154 healthy children, residing in rural zones of central Italy. For each participant, one urine sample was analyzed by the HPLC-MS/MS technique to simultaneously quantify 8oxodGuo and cotinine (a biomarker of ETS exposure), while information on the children was collected using a questionnaire filled out by the parents. Urinary levels of 8oxodGuo was found to be significantly higher in children exposed to ETS compared to those not exposed (5.53 vs. 4.78 μg/L; p = 0.019). This result was confirmed by the significant association observed between urinary levels of cotinine and 8oxodGuo (r = 0.364, p < 0.0001). Additionally, children exposed to ETS with no smoking ban at home showed a further increased difference than those not exposed (6.35 μg/L vs. 4.78 μg/L; p = 0.008). Considering the great number of adverse effects on human health due to exposure to passive smoking, especially if this exposure begins early in life, it is essential to implement health promotion interventions in this area.

Association between exposure to tobacco information through mass media, smoking households and secondhand smoke exposure in adolescents: Survey data from South Korea

INTRODUCTION

To explore the current situation of exposure of Korean adolescents to secondhand smoke (SHS) in households our study aimed to determine the relationship between family member smoking status, exposure to tobacco information through mass media, and household SHS exposure.

METHODS

The present study uses pooled data from the Korean adolescent health behavior online survey conducted in 2015, 2018 and 2021, with 157944 participants. The regression models were used to explore the association between the smoking status of households, and exposure to tobacco information through mass media, and household SHS exposure in adolescents, controlling for potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

SHS exposure duration of Korean adolescents in households was 0.88 days per week. The households with smokers including the father (β=1.087; 95% CI: 1.0-1.126), mother (β=1.461; 95% CI: 1.379- 1.543), siblings (β=0.545; 95% CI: 0.493-0.597), grandparents (β=0.224; 95% CI: 0.174-0.272), and other relatives (β=0.170; 95% CI: 0.126-0.214), showed a positive association with SHS exposure in adolescents within the household. At the same time, information about anti-smoking ads on television (β= -0.042; 95% CI: -0.069 - -0.015) and public transportation (β= -0.031; 95% CI: -0.054 - -0.010), showed a negative association with SHS exposure in adolescents. However, broadcasts, online, and newspaper non-smoking ads were not associated with SHS exposure (p>0.05). In addition, regression models revealed that exposure to cigarette advertising in magazines (β=0.131; 95% CI: 0.097-0.166), networks (β=0.151; 95% CI: 0.127-0.175), convenience stores (β=0.061; 95% CI: 0.035-0.087), and supermarkets (β=0.133; 95% CI: 0.108-0.158) is associated with SHS exposure in adolescents. Finally, our study showed stronger ties between SHS exposure, family smoking, and tobacco ads in girls. The link between maternal smoking, supermarket ads, and adolescent SHS exposure intensified in 2021 compared to 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

Family and media were identified as potential factors associated with SHS exposure in adolescents. Therefore, publicity and education regarding household SHS hazards, and smoking bans in media, can be helpful in protecting adolescents from SHS.

The effects of planned education given to parents on smoking in the home environment and passive exposure of children aged 0-5: A quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study from Turkey

PURPOSE

This study was carried out to determine the effects of planned education given to parents on smoking status at home and on children's passive smoking exposure.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was conducted with the inclusion of 40 parents with at least one child between the ages of 0 and 5 and smoking in their homes, who were registered at a Family Health Center in a city center in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, from 1 September 2019 to 30 June 2020. The data of the study were collected using Participant Screening Form, a Personal Information Form, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, a Smoking Behaviors and Precautions at Home Form, and a Measurement and Follow-up Form. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 package software.

RESULTS

In the follow-ups after the planned smoking cessation training given to the parents, the carbon monoxide measurements at their homes decreased significantly throughout the four follow-ups, the number of parents who presented to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic increased, and the number of smoking parents decreased (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that the planned education that was given to smoker parents reduced the smoking rates of the parents, lowered the carbon monoxide values measured in their home environments, and thus, it was effective in reducing the passive exposure of their children at the ages of 0 to 5 years to cigarette smoke.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Parents who are addicted to cigarettes should be encouraged not to smoke at home, and homes should be included in closed environments where smoking is prohibited.