Effects of passive smoking on lung function in children.
BACKGROUND
Passive smoking can have significant effects on lung function with reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25-75%) of between 5 and 10%.


METHODS
Fifty non-smoking children aged 6-15 years, who had no history of asthma or atopy and no parental history of atopy, were assessed with respect to their lung functions (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%).


RESULTS
Thirty-three of these children were being exposed to environmental tobacco smoke inside their homes, while 17 children were not exposed. In the 'passive smoker' group the FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% values were found to be significantly lower than the non-smoker control group's values (P = 0.0080, 0.0228 and 0.0003, respectively). The decrease in FEF25-75% was significantly correlated inversely with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (P = 0.0261).


CONCLUSIONS
There is sufficient evidence to support the notion that environmental tobacco smoke is a serious health burden for children. Considering that recent studies suggest that up to 70% of children grow up in homes with at least one smoker, every effort should be made to reduce these children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and to give them a chance to grow up in a more healthy environment.
Nuhoglu
Cagatay
C
Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Gurul
Mehmet
M
Nuhoglu
Yonca
Y
Karatoprak
Nihal
N
Sonmez
Esra Onal
EO
Yavrucu
Serpil
S
Ozguner
Ahmet
A
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution