Passive smoking in children: facts and public health implications.
This study measured cotinine/creatinine ratios among 60 children in Alexandria, Egypt whose parent(s) smoked and 20 control children whose parents reported not smoking to show that passive smoker children were more exposed than controls. Among the passive smoker children, girls were more exposed, 35% of the population burden of cotinine was among those aged 0-2 years, and exposure significantly decreased with the child's age. Passive smoker children whose fathers smoked "lighter" cigarettes had higher exposure levels than those whose fathers smoked regular brands. Educational programmes should increase awareness of the ill-effects of environmental tobacco smoke, and health professionals should advise parents who smoke on quitting smoking rather than switching to a "lighter" cigarette brand.
Department of Public and Community Health, School of Health Care, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom. walid.ansari@brookes.ac.uk
W
W
el-Ansari
D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003404:Creatinine; D003367:Cotinine