ETS exposure, mental and physical health and oxidative stress parameters in a sample of Slovak women

Abstract

Background. Exposure to environmental risk factors has a negative impact on health, especially in vulnerable population groups, which include the children, mothers and pregnant women. Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of ETS with mental and physical health and oxidative stress parameters in a sample of Slovak women based on the bilateral American-Slovak project. Methods. Researchers from the Comenius University’s Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/Gyn) Department and Institute of Hygiene in Bratislava, Slovakia distributed surveys to non-smoking mothers and pregnant women in the 36th-41st week of pregnancy being seen for the follow-up at the OB/Gyn Department of the Faculty Hospital and Clinic. The major end-points were physical and mental health of non-smoking mothers (n=544) and the urine antioxidant capacity and oxidative lipid damage by monitoring the levels of 8-isoprostanes in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy (n=80). Results.The results show that living with a smoker is independently associated with worse physical health in a selected sample of non-smoking women AOR = 1.9 (95% CI = 1.0-3.6); p = 0.047) and worse mental health (SF-12) in pregnant women (AOR = 2.2 (95% CI = 1.01-4.85); p = 0.047). The harmful effect of current and passive smoking on detected oxidative stress parameters (urine antioxidant capacity - AC, 8-isoprostanes concentration) in the pilot sample of pregnant women has been indicated. ETS exposed non-smoking pregnant women had significantly reduced AC compared to ETS not exposed group even to the smoker group (p < 0.05). ETS exposed nonsmokers had significantly lower levels of 8-isoprostane than smokers (p < 0.01) and ETS not exposed nonsmokers (p < 0.05). Conclusion. These data represent an important argument for intervention in families. To avoid negative effects of ETS on pregnancy outcomes a total smoking ban in the household should be introduced.