Secondhand Smoke 'Could Increase Risk...

 

Passive smoking may be to blame for 274,100 cases of ADHD and learning disabilities

Children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home increase their odds of developing common mental and behavioral disorders by 50 per cent, experts say.

Passive smoking is already known to increase the risk of cot death, asthma, meningitis and middle-ear infections among children.

In the latest study, scientists analysed more than 50,000 results from a U.S children's health survey conducted between 2007 and 2008.

Parents most involved with childcare were asked whether a doctor or teacher had told them their child had a learning disability, ADHD or another conduct disorder.


They were also asked if their youngster had received counselling and whether anyone smoked in the home.

Lead researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that six per cent of children under-12 were exposed to passive smoking at home - which is equivalent to around five million children.

These youngsters were 50 per cent more likely to develop 'neurobehavioural disorders' such as a learning disability (8.2 per cent), ADHD (5.9 per cent) or another conduct disorders (3.6 per cent).

They were also 50 per cent more likely to suffer from two or more disorders as well as having undergone counselling.

Boys and children aged between nine and 11-years-old were found to be at the greatest risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The results were weighted to adjust for other known risk factors such as the family's economic status and the mother's level of education.

Although the team have found a strong association between secondhand smoke and neurobehavioural disorders they haven't proved that one has caused the other.

However, they wrote in the latest edition of the journal Pediatrics: 'Assuming a causal relationship, 274,100 excess cases of these disorders could have been prevented had the children not been exposed to second hand smoke in their homes.'

They added that it could ease the burden on children's mental health services.

The study, co-authored by Dr Gregory Connolly, concluded: 'Health and economic burdens might be reduced significantly if voluntary smoke-free home policies are rigorously introduced.'

It comes just weeks after a study from Concordia University in Montreal found smoking in front of children can make them addicted to nicotine.

Lead author Simon Radicot, said: 'We found that kids who'd never smoked who were exposed to tobacco use were more likely to hold positive beliefs about the killer habit. These are the kids who are more likely to start smoking as teenagers.'

Co-author Jennifer J. McGrath, added: 'Children exposed to the same amounts of secondhand smoke as adults absorb higher doses of nicotine.

'Early findings suggest that secondhand smoke exposure could possibly trigger addiction in the brain - before kids actually start smoking themselves.'

 

 

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