title: How home-smoking habits affect children: a cross-sectional study using urinary cotinine measurement in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of different home-smoking rules and smoking habits of cohabitant on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information about 396 Italian children (5-11 years old) and cohabitants' smoking habits was collected by a questionnaire. Exposure assessment was performed by determination of urinary cotinine (u-cotinine).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median u-cotinine concentrations in children significantly increased in a similar fashion as theoretical ETS exposure increase: cohabitants do not smoke (1.79 μg/g creatinine), cohabitant(s) smoker(s) never smoke at home (2.84), smoke at home only when children are out (3.90), and smoke at home even if children are in (6.02). Median u-cotinine levels of exposed children were associated to the strength of cohabitant's smoking behaviours when smoker(s) consume daily a high number of cigarettes (≥ 20) respect to light consumption (1-9) (4.52 and 3.24 μg/g creatinine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The magnitude of ETS exposure in children is correlated with smoking habits and home-smoking precautions adopted by their cohabitants. Educational interventions on parents are essential to increase their awareness about ETS exposure and to teach correct behaviours to protect health of kids, especially in household environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Protano
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitali
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine