Child Brains Suffer from Tobacco Smoke

Published on July 30, 2008 2:38 AM

Study showed even low level of tobacco smoke in the home can lower test results for reading and maths. The scientists call to ban smoking in public places. Parents did not look at the effects over time as their children grew up. The scientists measured levels of cotinine, a substance made when nicotine is broken down by the body to find out exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Cotinine can be measured in saliva, urine, blood and hair.

Children aged between 6 and 16 were included in the analysis if their blood cotinine levels were at or below 15 ng/ml – if they denied using any tobacco products in the previous 5 days and if a level consistent with environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

Dr Kimberly Yolton’s team then studied the children’s cognitive and academic abilities in reading, maths, reasoning and logic. There was a one-point decline in reading scores for each unit increase in cotinine at levels above 1 ng/ml. There was a five-point decline for each unit increase in cotinine at levels below 1 ng/ml. The researchers suggested that even low levels of exposure to tobacco can reduce brain function. Passive smoking was linked with nearly a two-point decline in a math test.

Dr Yolton said: “These declines may not be clinically meaningful for an individual child, but they have huge implications for our society because millions of children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. More studies looking at the effects of passive smoking over time as children grow will be useful.” She also said they added incentive for countries to set public health standards to protect kids from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

The UK government launched a series of hard-hitting TV advertisements to encourage smokers to give up. But campaigners are worried this will not protect kids against exposure to amounts of smoke in their own homes.

Amanda Sandford, research manager at Action on Smoking and Health, said: “This shocking study strengthens the case for protecting children from second-hand smoke in all indoor environments. Banning smoking in all public places where children have access should be a priority, but all adults should refrain from smoking when children are present and that includes the home environment.”

Dr Lawrence, research manager, “This fits in with what we know about the effects of tobacco smoke, even though it is not conclusive. Smoking is bad for children. Smoking in pregnancy causes low weight babies who do not fare as well in later years. It also causes respiratory diseases.”