Abstract
Children are at risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. We aimed to evaluate the extent of their exposure to it in relation to their parents’ smoking status by using biomarkers relevant to smoking. We evaluated 847 school-age children (6–12 years) who lived with their parents, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018. Secondhand smoke exposure in children of non-smoking and smoking parents was assessed by measuring urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and cotinine concentrations. Overall, the parents of 482 (55.1%) children smoked and those of 392 (44.9%) children did not smoke. After adjusting for covariates, significantly higher concentrations of NNAL (β = 0.482, standard error [S.E.] = 0.065, P < 0.001) and cotinine (β = 0.472, S.E. = 0.06, P < 0.001) were found in children of smoking parents than in children of non-smoking parents. Children of parents who smoked a higher number of cigarettes showed higher NNAL and cotinine concentrations than children of non-smoking parents. Children with both parents who smoked showed the highest NNAL and cotinine concentrations. Children of smoking parents are at a higher risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. A smoke-free environment must be maintained to protect children from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Therefore, comprehensive national anti-smoking policies are required.
Highlights
Children are at risk of exposure to secondhand smoke
Most studies on the association between parents’ smoking status, secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure biomarkers have focused on adolescents in terms of smoking probability or on children with certain diseases
In this study of school-age children in Korea, at least one out of two children was living with a parent who smoked, and the NNAL and cotinine concentrations were higher in children whose parents were smokers
Summary
Children are at risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. We aimed to evaluate the extent of their exposure to it in relation to their parents’ smoking status by using biomarkers relevant to smoking. Children of parents who smoked a higher number of cigarettes showed higher NNAL and cotinine concentrations than children of nonsmoking parents. Children of smoking parents are at a higher risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. Around 40% of children are still exposed to SHS at home or other places frequently visited by children, and most exposures are related to parental s moking[11]. There has been evidence that this effort to prevent SHS exposure does not provide sufficient protection form all of the effects of s moking[13]. This is due to concerns about thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure. Children can still be exposed to toxic substances from smoking
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