Abstract
BackgroundChildren may be exposed to tobacco products in multiple ways if their parents smoke. The risks of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) are well known. This study aimed to investigate the association between parental smoking and the children’s cotinine level in relation to restricting home smoking, in Korea.MethodsUsing the Korea National Health and Nutrition Health Examination Survey data from 2014 to 2017, we analyzed urine cotinine data of parents and their non-smoking children (n = 1,403), in whose homes parents prohibited smoking. We performed linear regression analysis by adjusting age, sex, house type, and household income to determine if parent smoking was related to the urine cotinine concentration of their children. In addition, analysis of covariance and Tukey’s post-hoc tests were performed according to parent smoking pattern.FindingChildren’s urine cotinine concentrations were positively associated with those of their parents. Children of smoking parents had a significantly higher urine cotinine concentration than that in the group where both parents are non-smokers (diff = 0.933, P < .0001); mothers-only smoker group (diff = 0.511, P = 0.042); and fathers-only smoker group (diff = 0.712, P < .0001). In the fathers-only smoker group, the urine cotinine concentration was significantly higher than that in the group where both parents were non-smoker (diff = 0.221, P < .0001), but not significantly different compared to the mothers-only smoker group (diff = - -0.201, P = 0.388). Children living in apartments were more likely to be exposed to smoking substances.ConclusionThis study showed a correlation between parents’ and children’s urine cotinine concentrations, supporting the occurrence of home smoking exposure due to the parents’ smoking habit in Korea. Although avoiding indoor home smoking can decrease the children’s exposure to tobacco, there is a need to identify other ways of smoking exposure and ensure appropriate monitoring and enforcement of banning smoking in the home.
Highlights
Smoking causes negative health outcomes in smokers and in people around them, due to the exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in all age and sex [1,2]
This study showed a correlation between parents’ and children’s urine cotinine concentrations, supporting the occurrence of home smoking exposure due to the parents’ smoking habit in Korea
The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between parental smoking and children’s cotinine level in relation to the restricting home smoking, in Korea
Summary
Smoking causes negative health outcomes in smokers and in people around them, due to the exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in all age and sex [1,2]. Efforts to protect non-smokers from SHS exposure were first introduced in the 1970s-1980s [3]. In South Korea, in 1995, the National Health Promotion Act (NHPA) was the first introduction to tobacco control policies. In 2006, a new legislation introduced smoking bans in most public and private workplaces, schools, hospitals, outdoor areas surrounding schools, and children’s playgrounds. Designated smoking areas were still allowed in most other facilities and in most outdoor public spaces. In 2018, in the most recent national effort, the NHPA was strengthened to include that kindergartens and daycare centers have non-smoking areas within 10 meters from the boundaries of the facilities, and violations of smoking prohibitions carry a fine of up to KRW100,000 (approximately USD80). This study aimed to investigate the association between parental smoking and the children’s cotinine level in relation to restricting home smoking, in Korea
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