Effects of tobacco smoke exposure on lung growth in adolescents.
A longitudinal study on exposure to tobacco smoke among adolescents was carried out in Turin (North-Western Italy) in January-February 1992 and in January-February 1993. In 1992, 394 schoolchildren aged 14-16 years were enrolled in a study protocol which consisted in answering a standardized questionnaire, measurement of urinary cotinine and testing of lung function (flow-volume curve--[FVC] and forced expiratory volume in I sec.--[FEV1]). In 1993, 333 schoolchildren from the same group repeated the survey. By comparison to urinary cotinine, findings obtained showed a reduction of increase, from 1992 to 1993, of -0.57% (p = 0.082) for FVC, and -0.66% (p = 0.05) for FEV1. Assuming that the systematic selection bias did not seem to have occurred, findings, obtained from a multiple regression analysis, showed that active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke, as measured by urinary cotinine, had a significant effect on lung growth (as measured by FEV1) in adolescents; this effect, though small, was dose-related.
Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin, Italy. bono@molinette.unito.it
R
R
Bono
F
F
Nebiolo
M
M
Bugiani
V
V
Meineri
E
E
Scursatone
P
P
Piccioni
E
E
Caria
G
G
Gilli
W
W
Arossa
D000293:Adolescent; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine