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Childhood Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke Has Long-Lasting
Effects
Brief Description:
A study finds that early-life exposure to second-hand smoke can produce
life-long respiratory problems. Published by researchers at the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, it's the largest study,
to date, on the effects of childhood exposure to environmental tobacco
smoke on respiratory disease later in life.
Transcript:
Schmalfeldt: Now there's another reason
for parents to consider quitting the smoking habit. A new study showed
that early-life exposure to second hand smoke can produce life-long respiratory
problems. Published by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences, this is the largest study to date on the effects of
childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory disease
later in life. The study, conducted among 35-thousand adult non-smokers
in Singapore, found that those who lived with a smoker during childhood
had more respiratory problems as adults. NIEHS Researcher, Doctor Stephanie
London, talks about the potential clinical impact of the study.
London: It potentially is something that clinicians could think about when
they're taking a history on adults who have respiratory symptoms for
which there
isn't an obvious explanation. I think the other thing is pointing out
that it's not just childhood asthma and respiratory symptoms that could
result from the parents' smoking, but long-lasting effects.
Schmalfeldt:
The study also showed that participants who reported eating more
fruit and soy fiber as adults were able to reverse some of the negative
health
effects often associated with early tobacco exposure. For more information
about environmental tobacco smoke, log on to the website at niehs.nih.gov.
From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda,
Maryland.
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| Date: 09/04/2005 |
Reporter:
Bill Schmalfeldt |
Sound
Bite:
Dr. Stephanie London |
Topic:
Second Hand Smoke |
| Institute(s):
NIEHS |
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