Effects Of Secondhand Smoke Research Articles

Passive Smoking - Effects of Second-Hand Smoke on Oral Health

Worldwide, smoking poses a serious threat to public health. Numerous research has examined how active smoking affects health, and the overall harmful effects of active smoking are widely acknowledged. In contrast, it's unclear how passive smoking affects your health. A number of disorders, including female breast cancer, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis, and food allergies, have been linked to smoking, both actively and passively. The typical oral and nasopharyngeal flora are altered by passive smoking, which increases the risk of upper airway infection. In addition to producing severe periodontitis, implant failure, gingival pigmentation in children and adults, primary and permanent tooth decay, and tooth loss, it can impair alveolar bone density. But research on the effects of passive smoking on health has not been fully compiled and is still mainly inconclusive. Consequently, the total systemic and oral negative consequences of passive smoking exposure are the focus of this review.

РИСК СМЕРТНОСТИ ОТ ОСНОВНЫХ ПАТОЛОГИЙ ВСЛЕДСТВИЕ ПАССИВНОГО КУРЕНИЯ НЕ ДОСТИГАЕТСЯ ПОДАВЛЯЮЩИМ БОЛЬШИНСТВОМ РАБОТНИКОВ ЯДЕРНОЙ ИНДУСТРИИ ВСЕХ ПЕРИОДОВ ЗАНЯТОСТИ

To date, there are about 100 meta-analyses for lung cancer and circulatory (cardiovascular) diseases (CVD) as the effects of second hand smoking (SHS). The obtained risk values (Relative Risk – RR, odds ratio – OR, etc.) are in the range of 1.2–1.3, but there are no definitively accepted estimates yet, and many estimates were not made in recent years. Both SHS and work at nuclear industry enterprises have become stereotypes in everyday and scientific everyday consciousness, meaning something harmful in everyday and professional terms. The present study compared the mortality risks from all cancers, lung cancer, and CVD for SHS and nuclear workers (NW). At the first stage, an umbrella review (review of reviews; overview) and meta-analyses of meta-analyses (meta-meta-analyses) on the risks of mortality from these pathologies as effects of SHS were performed. Umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis are regarded as the highest level of evidence and, thus, the identified risks can be conditionally considered as ‘standard’. There were insufficient data available for all cancer mortality rates after SHS; Therefore, the results from the meta-analysis by Kim A.S. et al, 2018 were used., and meta-meta-analyses were performed for lung cancer and CVD mortality. The risk values were in the range of 1.22–1.24, which replicates previous findings. At the second stage, the risks identified for SHS were compared with the risks of mortality from the named pathologies for NW. The sample of publications for NW, extracted from the database maintained by the authors, included the most representative cohorts in relation to nuclear installations: with maximum doses, as well as combined cohorts (14–15 countries and INWORK – 3 countries). Based on published ERRs per 1 Gy for a given NW population, the radiation doses that NW would have to accumulate to approach the mortality risks from SHS were calculated. To achieve SHS risks for all three disease types, NWs were found to need to receive radiation doses ranging from 129–183 mSv to 1.07–6.0 Sv. There have been no cases in which the risk from SHS was equivalent to exposure to low-dose radiation (up to 100 mGy); more often, doses were localized in the range of about 300–800 mSv, up to 6 Sv. Analysis of published data on dose distributions for NW has demonstrated that such doses are received either by a relatively small or vanishingly small proportion of NW. Risks for 80–96 % of NWs from various countries, including activities since the 1940s, did not reach the harms of chronic exposure to SHS. It is concluded that the decades-long study of risks for NW, in particular ‘low doses’, does not seem adequate without taking into account the magnitude of even weak, but poorly controlled risks of everyday life, and the data obtained once again improves the image of employment in the field of nuclear energy.

The Effects of Second-hand Smoke on Liver Cancer

Secondhand tobacco smoke contains at least 69 carcinogens, such as nitrosamines, hydrocarbons, tar, and vinyl chloride. The liver is the main metabolic organ for these products. When the human body is exposed to these carcinogens for a long time, the carcinogens will cause "mutations" in the genes in the body and gradually accumulate, causing the cells to be unable to "function" normally, eventually leading to the occurrence of malignant tumors.Harmful substances such as nicotine in tobacco can activate cytokines and intermediate products of fiber formation, which accelerate the process of liver fibrosis and hinder the recovery of liver function in patients with liver disease. The condition will worsen with the increase in daily smoking, promoting the occurrence of liver cancer.

The Effect of Training Male Smokers About the Effects of Secondhand Smoke in Pregnant Wives on Their Self-Efficacy.

Contact with second-hand cigarette smoke includes inhalation of cigarette smoke caused by the burning of the cigarette itself and inhalation of smoke exhaled by the smoker. Wife's pregnancy can be a motivating factor to change the behavior of men who smoke. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to determine the effect of training male smokers on the effects of secondhand smoke during pregnancy on their self-efficacy. The present study is an interventional type of pre-test and post-test. In this phase, random sampling was done from health centers in Isfahan, the participants were 140 smoking spouses of pregnant women, who referred to health centers to receive pregnancy care, and were divided into two intervention and control groups. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire on men's self-efficacy regarding second-hand cigarette smoke. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed based on the opinion of the expert panel with content validity ratio (CVR)=0.87 and content validity index (CVI)=0.88, and its reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha=0.97. All data were analyzed with SPSS18 software and Chi-score, Fisher, t-test. There was no significant difference between the comparison of demographic variables in the intervention and control groups (p>0.05). The results of the paired t-test to compare before and after the training showed that the average score of self-efficacy (p<0.001) in the intervention group had increased significantly after the training, and according to the independent t-test, the average score of self-efficacy After training, it was more in the intervention group than the control group (p<0.05). Men's self-efficacy regarding second-hand smoke increased after training, so the current training package is effective in training and can be suggested for future studies.

The effect of caffeine intake and passive smoking on umbilical cord blood unit's quality parameters.

Today cord blood (CB) is a valuable source of hematopoietic stem cells to treat many hematological disorders. One of the limitations of CB utilization is the reduced number of nucleated cells including stem cells. Therefore, CB banks around the world have developed strategies in an attempt to improve donor selection and the quality of the CB inventory. This study aimed to determine the impact of passive smoking and caffeine consumption on CB quality. CBs were obtained from mothers who gave birth at King Abdulaziz Medical City. All mothers gave their informed consent. Personal interviews about the mother's demographics, smoking status and exposure, and caffeine consumption executed, followed by a chart review to analyze maternal and neonatal factors. Laboratory testing was performed on all collected CB units. Using descriptive statistics, maternal and newborn factors were analyzed. T-test or Mann-Whitney U Test, as appropriate, for continuous variables analysis to study the effect of second hand smoking and coffee consumption for the primary outcome. Our study demonstrated a reduction in CB MNC, including lymphocytes, in caffeine consumers among pregnant donors, as well as a reduction in cell potency activities, including total CFU and BFU-E. The effect of passive cigarette smoking on the same cohort was insignificant. Outcome of this study will help in optimizing the quality and quantity of stem cell harvesting from CB to get the maximum benefit and such knowledge will raise the awareness among pregnant women.

Designing, implementing and evaluating an educational program regarding the effects of second-hand smoke in pregnancy on the knowledge, attitude and performance of male smokers

IntroductionContact with second-hand cigarette smoke includes inhalation of cigarette smoke caused by the burning of the cigarette itself and inhalation of smoke exhaled by the smoker. Wife's pregnancy can be a motivating factor to change the behavior of men who smoke. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of designing, implementing and evaluating an educational program regarding the effects of second-hand smoke in pregnancy on the knowledge, attitude and performance of male smokers.MethodologyThe present study is an interventional type of pre-test and post-test. In this phase, sampling from health centers in Isfahan was done randomly between March and July 2019, the participants were 140 smoking spouses of pregnant women, who visited health centers to receive pregnancy care, and were divided into two intervention groups and control were divided. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire on men's awareness, attitude and performance regarding second-hand smoke. All data were analyzed with SPSS18 software and Chi-score, Fisher, t-test.ResultsThe average age of the participants was 34 years. There was no significant difference between the comparison of demographic variables in the intervention and control groups (p > 0.05). The results of the paired t-test for comparing before and after the training showed that the average score of the emotional dimension of attitude in the two groups of intervention (p < 0.001) and control (p < 0.001), awareness (p < 0.001) and behavior (p < 0.001) was significantly increased in the intervention group after the training, and according to the independent t-test, the average score of the items mentioned after the training in the intervention group was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Regarding perceived sensitivity (p = 0.066) and perceived severity (p = 0.065), no significant difference was observed.ConclusionThe awareness, emotional aspect of men's attitude and behavior regarding secondhand smoke increased, but the perceived sensitivity and severity in this regard was not significant despite the increase, so the current training package is effective in training, but considering more training sessions It is necessary with more concrete training with model or training videos in order to improve the sensitivity and perceived intensity of men.Trial registration: Registration of this randomized control trial has been completed with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20180722040555N1.

Perceived message effectiveness of cigar warning themes among adults in the United States

Most tobacco warnings focus on health harms to the consumer, but other message themes may be promising. We assessed perceived message effectiveness (PME) among adults who smoke cigars for 12 cigar warning statements to discourage smoking, and measured PME across four message themes: explicit health effects to the consumer, secondhand smoke effects, chemicals/constituents, and toxicity. Between April 23 and May 7, 2020, we conducted an online study with U.S. adults who used any cigar type in the past 30 days (n = 777). Participants were randomly assigned to view two out of 12 warnings and rate each one on PME. We analyzed PME mean ratings (range 1 [low] to 5 [high]). The warning statements for lung cancer (M = 3.91) and heart disease (M = 3.77) had the highest PME ratings; secondhand smoke (M = 3.50) and formaldehyde (M = 3.48) had the lowest PME ratings. Multilevel analyses showed that the explicit health effects theme was associated with higher PME ratings compared to other warning themes (ps < 0.05 for chemicals/constituents and secondhand smoke effects) except toxicity (p =.16). Higher awareness of consequences was associated with higher PME ratings (p <.001). Higher nicotine dependence was also associated with higher PME ratings (p = .004). Warning statements with information addressing the themes of health harms and toxicity could potentially inform those who smoke cigars about the broader harms of cigar use and should be considered in FDA labeling regulations for cigars.

Preventive Interventions to Reduce Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Among Non-Smoking Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review

The alarming number of smokers have increased public health concerns regarding the effects of second-hand smoke (SHS) on non-smokers, especially amongst pregnant women and unborn babies. This paper aims to review the existing interventions used to reduce SHS exposure amongst non-smoking pregnant women. This review was guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) review method. Published articles were identified through three databases: ProQuest, Science Direct, and Scopus within the 2010–2021 timeframe. Articles related to the intervention to reduce SHS exposure among non-smoking pregnant women were included. Nine studies were identified and reviewed. Most of the preventive interventions primarily focused on pregnant women as the target group, whereas a few interventions directly focused on changing the smoking behaviour of their spouses. This review suggests that using theories as a foundation in designing the intervention effectively reduces exposure to SHS among non-smoking pregnant women. The main limitation as reported by most studies was the lack of biochemical verification. Thus, future intervention should consider both pregnant women and their smoking spouses as the target group and include relevant theories in clinical intervention.

Secondhand smoke exposure is associated with the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with poor maternal and neonatal prognoses. Although several studies have indicated an effect of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure on HDP, such evidence is lacking in Japan. Therefore, we analyzed data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a large-scale epidemiological investigation, to elucidate a possible link between SHS exposure and HDP risk. Data were obtained from the all-birth fixed datasets and included information on 104,062 fetuses and their parents. SHS exposure was assessed in terms of the frequency (rarely, 1–3, or 4–7 days/week) and the daily duration of exposure (<1, 1–2, or ≥2 h(s)/day). Modified Poisson regression model analyses were performed with adjustment for known risk factors for HDP. Additionally, the population attributable fractions (PAFs) of SHS exposure and maternal smoking to HDP prevalence were estimated. The relative risks of developing HDP among individuals with SHS exposures of 4–7 days/week and ≥2 h/day were 1.18 and 1.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.36 and 0.96–1.67), respectively, compared to the reference groups (rare exposure and <1 h/day). The PAFs for the risk of HDP due to SHS exposure and perinatal smoking were 3.8% and 1.8%, respectively. Japanese women with greater exposure to SHS have a higher risk of HDP after adjustment for possible confounding factors; thus, relevant measures are required to reduce SHS exposure to alleviate HDP risk.The association between second-hand smoking exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy risk was analyzed using the JECS data. The relative risks in 4–7 days/week and ≥2 h/day of SHS exposures were 1.18 and 1.27, respectively. The PAFs due to SHS exposure and maternal smoking were 3.80% and 1.81%, respectively.

Health effects of secondhand smoke on children under 5 years of life

Background. The high prevalence of smoking among adults suggests the almost inevitable effects of second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) on children and adults who do not smoke. The negative effects of SHS are most pronounced in young children, especially in families where the mother is a smoker. The aim was to assess the effects of prenatal and postnatal exposure to SHS in children under five years of life. Materials and methods. The survey among 520 families with children was conducted using online self-reported questionnaire. Families with extremely and very preterm children and children with inherited diseases of bronchopulmonary system were excluded from the analysis. During the analysis, all children (n = 414; 55.07 % of boys and 44.93 % of girls, mean age — 36.38 ± 7.19 months) were divided according to SHS exposure. 186 children exposed to SHS were included in the main group, and 228 children without SHS exposure — in the control group. Results. 22.46 % of children were prenatally exposed to SHS. Maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly increased the risk of the intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (OR 2.43 [95% CI 1.07–5.52]). Postnatal exposure to SHS was present in 56.52 % of children. These children were significantly more likely to be formula-fed (OR 1.75 [95% CI 1.15–2.65]). The frequency of formula feeding was significantly increased by mothers’ use of both traditional tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (OR 2.10 and 2.99, respectively). Exclusively maternal smoking in the family increased the risk of frequent acute respiratory viral infections (ARI) in 3 years old children more than 1.5 times (OR 1.60 [95% CI 1.01–2.60]). Household SHS exposure increased the probability of bronchial obstruction (BO) during ARI in a child in 1.61 times, while exclusively maternal smoking increased the risk in 2.88 times. An increased risk of frequent ARI (OR 3.25 [95% CI 1.68–6.28]) was also present in the subgroup of children whose mothers smoked electronic nicotine delivery devices. The use of traditional tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems, both by mothers and other family members, has significantly affected the risk of developing BO in children with respiratory disease. Conclusions. Maternal smoking during pregnancy in the studied cohort is a proven risk factor for IUGR. Household smoking is statistically likely to affect the incidence and likelihood of developing BO in children of the first five years of life, regardless of the type of tobacco product. This risk is greatest among children whose mothers are smokers.

Effect of passive smoking on lung function tests in women

Pulmonary function tests are non-invasive diagnostic test that provide measurable feedback about the function of lungs. An assessment of lung volumes, capacities and flow rates provide specific information for clinical diagnosis and research purposes. Smoking is an addiction which affects the normal life, body and organ system as whole. Passive Smoking is defined as exposure of non smoker to tobacco smoke in the environment. Second hand tobacco smoke is the precursor of the primary active smoke from the smoker. Second hand tobacco smoke is believed to be more harmful than the primary smoke from the active smoker. The potency and health effects of second hand smoke involved the smell of secondhand smoke being an allergen affecting the respiratory system. The effects of passive smoking on respiratory system and lung function test warrants documentation. To evaluate the effect of passive smoke on lung function test among women exposed for ten years. The study was conducted on fifty females in the age group of 30-60 years who were exposed to passive smoke for ten years. An identical number of age matched females who were not exposed to cigarette smoke at home served as controls. The lung function parameters recorded were FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC%, PEFR, MVV and FEF25-75% The study demonstrated decline in mean values of FVC, FEV1/FVC%, MVV and FEF25-75% in female subjects but the difference in the mean values when compared with controls was found to be statistically insignificant. The mean values of FEV1 and PEFR was less in female subjects and the difference in the mean values was statistically significant. The study demonstrated decline in the expiration of FVC in first second and decline in maximum flow rate during forceful expiration that conforms to obstructive pattern of lung changes in females exposed to chronic passive smoke. Any significant decline in lung functions in females being most vulnerable in household, with time merits attention as they indicate likely morbidity in the event of continuing exposure to the offending agent.

The effects of secondhand smoke on respiratory pathology, sensitization and development of allergic diseases in young children (literature review)

The prevalence of active smoking in Ukraine significantly exceeds the worldwide average, which is certainly a risk factor for children to be exposed to secondhand smoke. The article provides literature data and presents a modern view on the problem of secondhand tobacco smoke impact on the child population. In pediatric practice, the pathological impact of secondhand smoke on the child’s health is significant at the stage of its fetal development. Historical data convincingly prove the connection between the antenatal effect of secondhand smoke and the increased risk of perinatal losses and risks of pregnancy — miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. As early as the 1960s and 1970s, scientific evidence was obtained for an association between the effects of tobacco smoke and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Children are most vulnerable to the negative effects of tobacco smoke at an early age because they have closer and longer contact with their parents, especially their mothers. Many studies have found an association between the effects of secondhand smoke and airway pathology (bronchitis, pneumonia), as well as an increase in the severity of respiratory syncytial viral infection (bronchiolitis). Numerous literature data indicate an association between the effect of passive smoking and the frequency and severity of oral cavity (dental caries) and middle ear (recurrent and chronic otitis, middle ear effusion) pathology. Many studies have shown the effects of secondhand smoke on the development and severity of bronchial asthma in children, but scientific data on the causal relationship of tobacco smoke with other allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies), which are common in young children and preceded bronchial asthma in the "atopic march, are more limited and contradictory. The literature was searched using the PubMed database.

Influencing Perceptions of Harm of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Among One Member of Couples Who Use Waterpipe.

Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) often occurs socially, increasing health risks for the smoker and others through secondhand smoke effects. While messages on WTS harms enhance perceived risks for self, whether these messages elevate perceived risks for others, such as one's romantic partner who engages in WTS, is unclear. We tested this idea by surveying one member of dual-smoking couples who engages in WTS. As part of an online study, we enrolled adults ages 18-30 who engaged in WTS and were in a committed relationship of at least 6 months whose partner engaged in WTS. Participants were randomized to a control arm or to one of two arms consisting of watching a brief video on health harms or overcoming myths about WTS, respectively. Outcomes were perceived harms and measures of desire and probability of quitting for self and partner. Participants (N = 238) who watched either video, compared with participants who did not watch a video, reported greater perceived health risks for self and partner and that their own WTS harmed their partner. Participants who watched either video reported a greater desire to quit for themselves, perceived that their partner had a greater desire to quit, and reported a higher likelihood of quitting together in the next 6 months. Brief videos containing risk-based messaging increase young adult waterpipe tobacco smokers' perceived harms and desire to quit for self and partner. This can be a useful strategy to motivate cessation in couples who engage in WTS. This study shows for the first time that at least among one member of dual-smoking couples who engages in WTS, brief videos on harms of WTS influences perceived harms and motivation to quit for the self and one's partner. This can be a useful strategy to promote cessation.

Need for sensitization on serious threats of second-hand smoke: Findings from a national study in Mauritius, a small island developing state in the Indian Ocean

This study had the following objectives: To assess the level of knowledge of Mauritians aged ≥ 20 years on the health effects of Second Hand Smoke (SHS), to investigate their behaviour when exposed to SHS and to look for any association between SHS-related knowledge and behaviour towards exposure. A national cross-sectional online survey was conducted. With the total population of Mauritians above the age of 20 years being 941,719, the calculated sample size was 400. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data among respondents from all 9 districts of the island of Mauritius, with representative district-wise samples. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 19.0. Considering the findings of the study, there were 408 respondents: Two-thirds of participants showed good knowledge of the harmful effects of SHS. Participants were aware of the link of SHS to respiratory diseases, nonetheless, they were not aware of its causes for non-respiratory diseases. One out of four participants (25.5%) were not aware that maternal passive smoking causes preterm delivery. More than one-third of the participants (37.3%) did not know that passive smoking causes sudden infant death syndrome. Inadequate levels of knowledge were also revealed by authors in other developing countries. We thus recommend bold sensitization campaigns about the serious threats of SHS. We highlight the pertinence of longitudinal cohort studies with assessment of SHS-related knowledge/behaviour before and after health education campaigns, in Mauritius and other developing countries.

Effect of second-hand smoke on systemic, oral and psychological health of primary school children in Western Uttar Pradesh: a biochemical analysis.

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure causes several systemic problems like asthma, dental problems like caries and effects overall wellbeing. This study was conducted to study the impact of SHS on primary school children by associating it with dental caries, cotinine level, asthma severity and overall wellbeing. A case control study was conducted amongst 200 children (9-15 years old) that came to the Dental College in Muradnagar-Ghaziabad, India. Children who lived in smoking households were identified as SHS subjects-100 children and those who lived in nonsmoking households were identified as control group-100 children. Parents completed questionnaire regarding their smoking status. In children's questionnaire severity of asthma was determined by using expert panel report (EPR3), dental caries was recorded by dmft Index and psychological assessment of children was done using WHO-5 Wellbeing Index. Collection of unstimulated saliva of children was done in sterile plastic tubes and cotinine level was measured using Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Students' t-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze data. Mean number of children suffering from asthma was higher in SHS subjects in comparison to control group i.e. 348.9±166.509 and 247.3±15.86 respectively. dmft and WHO wellbeing scores increased as level of cotinine increased. Mean cotinine level was higher in SHS subjects than control group i.e. 348.9±166.509 and 247.3±15.86 respectively. SHS has an adverse impact on young children reflected by poor dmft scores and psychological wellbeing, increased cotinine levels and asthma severity in comparison to control group.

Effect of secondhand smoking on gingival pain and bleeding in non-smoking adolescents in South Korea

Effect of secondhand smoking on gingival pain and bleeding in non-smoking adolescents in South Korea

Factors associated with knowledge about the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke among youth in Bangladesh

Background: Despite the high prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among Bangladeshi adults, little is known about the knowledge regarding the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke among the youth aged 15-24 years in Bangladesh. Against this background, the present study was conducted among the youth in Bangladesh to ascertain their levels of knowledge regarding health effects of secondhand smoke and its associated factors.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 656 respondents between the age of 15-24 years old selected by multistage cluster sampling. This study was conducted in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. Data was analyzed using Chi square testing and multivariate logistic regression.Results: The proportion of good, average and poor knowledge scores among respondents were 30.5%, 50.0% and 19.5% respectively. Age and education were significant independent predictors of good knowledge. Furthermore, education and gender were tended as independent predictor of average knowledge. OR for age: 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.25); OR for education: 1.27 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.40).Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study found that less than one-third of the youth had a good level of knowledge on secondhand smoke health effects. The government needs to focus more on less-educated individuals and adolescents if a successful policy is to be implemented.

Курение родителей как фактор нарушения остроты зрения у школьников Баку

Purpose. To study the number of medical appeals and the incidence of school-age children in Baku, exposed to passive smoking in their families. Material and methods. Schoolchildren were given 5000 questionnaires; the response was 2363 questionnaires (39.4±0.6%). The collected questionnaires of schoolchildren contained the answers of a total of 3895 parents, of which 1885 were fathers and 2010 were mothers. All schoolchildren were divided into 2 groups: 818 schoolchildren whose parents were tobacco-dependent and 1545 schoolchildren whose parents were tobacco-dependent. Depending on the degree of tobacco dependence of parents, 818 schoolchildren were divided into groups: group 1 – non-systematic smoking of parents (about 5 cigarettes a day), tobacco dependence is weak, there are no visible effects on health – 204 schoolchildren; 2nd group – habitual smoking of parents (5–15 cigarettes per day), moderate tobacco dependence, a number of negative effects on health are manifested – 252 schoolchildren; Group 3 – parents' addiction (more than 15 cigarettes a day), severe tobacco dependence, pronounced dysfunctions of various organs are manifested – 362 schoolchildren. We analyzed the outpatient medical records of children in the district children's polyclinics and determined their medical appealss and the degree of morbidity. Results. It was found that despite the widespread anti-tobacco campaign, in 34.6±1.0% of families in Baku, schoolchildren continue to be exposed to the effects of secondhand smoke, which has a detrimental effect on their eye health. The medical appeals of schoolchildren to children's polyclinics increase by 1.95 times and the level of their morbidity increases by 1.35 times, and in families whose parents smoke more than 15.0 cigarettes/ day it reaches 79.8±2.5%. Conclusion. A wide accessible educational campaign among parents is needed, the main argument of which should be the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on the health of the eyes of children. Key words: passive smoking, schoolchildren, health, eye care, vision protection.

Effect of second-hand smoke on the immunological parameters of wistar rats and their offspring

The literature covers multiple negative effects of active and passive tobacco smoking upon the human body and experimental animals. Much lesser attention is given to the features of the immune system in offspring from the passively smoking experimental animals. In previous works, we studied physiological and immunological parameters in the infant rats born from passively smoking rats. The present work expands the scope of this direction and is devoted to assessment of immunological parameters in passively smoking pregnant rats and their offspring. Quantitative determination of immunological parameters was carried out in pregnant Wistar rats exposed to passive tobacco smoking and in 65 pup rats from smoke-exposed and nonexposed animals. The experimental rats were exposed to tobacco smoke for 8 hours from the 1st to the 20th day of pregnancy. In all animals, the body weight, thymus and spleen, the number of white blood cells, thymocytes, splenocytes, and myelocaryocytes were determined. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the smoking rats showed a significant decrease in the weight of animals, the number of thymocytes and myelocaryocytes. A decreased body mass of animals and their thymus glands, lower number of thymocytes were registered in pup rats born from smoking females as compared with control animals. These changes in immunological parameters may be based on a number of possible reasons. On the one hand, tobacco smoke promotes activation of free-radical processes with a simultaneously decreased efficiency of antioxidant mechanisms. This activation may result from exposure to the components of tobacco smoke, in particular, chromium, as a metal of variable valence, as well as benzene, which is transformed by the free-radical oxidation mechanisms. On the other hand, some tobacco smoke components may promote apoptosis which plays a significant role in the cellular exhaustion of immunogenesis system. Moreover, a decreased number of thymocytes may be caused by their migration from cortical areas to the medulla, followed by release into bloodstream. Thus, the results obtained indicate that the detected changes in these parameters are more pronounced in pregnant rats who were exposed to tobacco smoke and their offspring, and expand the knowledge of changes in the immune system in the offspring of passively smoking animals. The presented data may present a basis for development of drugs that reduce toxic effect of ecotoxicants, including passive tobacco smoking.

Survey of Knowledge and Opinion among Thai Veterinarians on Nicotine Toxicity and Second-hand Smoke Effects on Pets’ Health+

Survey of Knowledge and Opinion among Thai Veterinarians on Nicotine Toxicity and Second-hand Smoke Effects on Pets’ Health+