Environmental tobacco smoke linked to behavior problems in children and pre-teens

Eurekalert ^ | 04/30/06 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

[Moonman62]

SAN FRANCISCO -- A new Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study shows that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, even at extremely low levels, is associated with behavior problems in children and pre-teens.

While the study examined 5 to 11 year olds with asthma, the findings most likely could be extrapolated to include children without asthma who "act out" or experience depression and anxiety, according to Kimberly Yolton, Ph.D., a researcher at the Children's Environmental Health Center at Cincinnati Children's and the study's main author

The study will be presented at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time Sunday, April 30, at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in San Francisco.

"This study provides further incentive for states to set public health standards to protect children from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke," says Dr. Yolton.

Dr. Yolton examined 225 children and pre-teens exposed to at least five cigarettes a day. On average, the children were exposed to approximately 14 cigarettes a day. The children were enrolled in an asthma intervention study. Dr. Yolton included additional measures to assess child behaviors.

To measure exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, Dr. Yolton measured levels of cotinine in the children's blood. Cotinine is a substance produced when nicotine is broken down by the body and can be measured in blood, urine, saliva and hair. It is considered the best available marker of environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

Dr. Yolton found a relationship between cotinine levels and increases in acting out; increases in holding things in, often manifested by anxiety and depression; increases in behavior problems as rated by parents, and behavior and school problems as rated by teachers; and, decreases in the ability to adapt to behavior problems.

"The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the problems these children had," says Dr. Yolton. "Behavior problems in children have increased from 7 to 18 percent over the last 20 years for reasons that are poorly understood. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for child behavior problems."

In the United States, about 25 percent of children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in their own homes, yet more than 50 percent of children have detectable levels of cotinine in their blood, according to Dr. Yolton.

Previous studies have found link between tobacco smoke and birth weight, number of infections and other health problems, including asthma exacerbations. In a groundbreaking study in 2002, Dr. Yolton found that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, even at extremely low levels, is associated with decreases in certain cognitive skills, including reading, math, and logic and reasoning, in children and adolescents.

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Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is a 475-bed institution devoted to bringing the world the joy of healthier kids. Cincinnati Children's is dedicated to transforming the way health care is delivered by providing care that is timely, efficient, effective, family-centered, equitable and safe. Cincinnati Children's ranks third nationally among all pediatric centers in research grants from the National Institutes of Health. It is a teaching affiliate of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The Cincinnati Children's vision is to be the leader in improving child health. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.

[SheLion]

I don't run but exercise quite a bit. I get a bit testy if I don't get my daily exercise in. Sort of like a nicotine fit I use to get when I smoked.

Well, I'm not crazy about the word "addicted," unless it applies to coke and/or pot and hard drugs.  Something that never touches my life, thank God.

But being addicted to something isn't always a bad thing.  Thousands of people must run and/or work out in gym's during the week.  I think when a person enjoys something, they can really get into it.  ie:  addicted.

Not a bad thing, actually.  Unless it pertains to hard drugs, like I said before.

[SheLion]

It's long been very fascinating to me that the attitudes of most "defenders of the smoke" on such threads seem to be very similar, in my experience to the attitudes of kids with behavior problems. I wonder if there's a correlation.

You know what?  My hubby and I smoked before, during and after my pregnancy to which I delivered an 8lb 12oz baby girl, perfect health.  21.5 inches long.

We smoked all during her growing years and into her teen aged years.  She is now married with a baby of her own.

She never ever had behavior problems.  She was a good kid. 

[SheLion]

Me too, as long as it's in an airtight container by themselves. :)

You are a real trip, you know it? ~sarcasm

[tryon1ja]

bull pucky

[Moonman62]

Thanks.

[383rr]

"Just recently you said adults these days should know better than to smoke around children. I liked that. And when someone posts something reasonable such as #50, I usually respond."

You only answer what you want to, or fits your agenda.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1629637/posts?q=1&&page=151

To: Moonman62
"Can't you come up with anything better than that?"

"Considering the angry responses I got I'd say it hit the bullseye. "

3."Protect freedom of choice."

"You know which activist group you sound like with that."

You recieved no anger here.
You didn't come up with anything much better than before.

Gee, thanks for comparing me to the cannabis advocates. Thanks for the imaginative response.
So, now you're calling for rule by the supreme court? Ain't how it's supposed to be. They are not allowed to introduce legislation, and what you suggest is called judicial tyranny, instigated by activist judges.

My point is, you have a choice to go to a non-smoking establishment. (There are more than enough)
But, in your mind, I have no such choice.
So, tell me what kind of group you're comparable to?



155 posted on 05/10/2006 12:19:33 PM PDT by 383rr ((those who choose security over liberty deserve neither; GUN CONTROL=SLAVERY)


Still haven't got an answer.

[Bogey]

While I was reading the article I was thinking that it could be that parents who smoke around their children are worse parents. It's too early to conclude that it's the smoke.
Considering the hundreds of experts and parents complaining about the dangerous side effects and suicides of the kids on Ritalin, I suspect this article might have been engineered by "Big Pharma." It fits their style.

[Quix]

Mostly, I'd agree, except when it comes to defenseless children in a smoker's home.

[Quix]

Can we make them better parents by taking away their cigaretes?
- - - -

YES! Better at least in that they are not willfully poisoning their children.

[Moonman62]

It's long been very fascinating to me that the attitudes of most "defenders of the smoke" on such threads seem to be very similar, in my experience to the attitudes of kids with behavior problems.

You noticed that, too? But can't you feel the love?

[tacticalogic]

YES! Better at least in that they are not willfully poisoning their children.

So what do you figure it will take to make them perfect (or an least just like you)?

[383rr]

"Mostly, I'd agree, except when it comes to defenseless children in a smoker's home."

My goodness,you never fail to impress me!

Inadequate? Hardly.
Your keen in-sight has won me over from the darkside!!!!!!!!!
Thanks be to you!!!!!!!!!

[Quix]

tobacco smoke is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for child behavior problems." <

We won't even mention the number of marriages that ended in divorce.

But no, obviously the increase in behavior problems is due to tobacco.

Fascinating. Very fascinating. Amidst folks so outraged over the supposed flaws in a well done study, there's all kinds of nonsense proffered in reply.

Perhaps it could be explained to me how "a risk factor" turns into "the increase in behavior problems is due to tobacco." as though tobacco alone--which is NOT what the study said.

Straw dogs are typically easy to burn.

Marriages etc. contributing to behavior problems. Oh, you left out demonic oppression and possession.

OF COURSE other factors contribute! This study did not deal with other factors. I suppose other windmills could be found to be jousted at . . . if one is really in desperate search for such.

[383rr]

"But can't you feel the love?"

Hey (hey) What's the matter with your feel right?
Don't you feel right, baby?
Hey, oh, yeah, get it from the main line, alright
I said-a find it, find it, darling, love it
If you like it, yeah-eh
Hey (hey) It's your business if you want some
Take some, get it together, baby

Come and get your love
Come and get your love
Come and get your love
Come and get your love

Come and get your love, come and get your love
Come and get your love, now
Come and get your love, come and get your love
Come and get your love, now
Come and get your love, come and get your love
Come and get your love, now
Come and get your love, come and get your love
Come and get your love, now




Are you a Redbone fan too?

[Quix]

Ahhhhh. Dangerous post--asserting hereon that cats have limited perception! LOL.

[383rr]

"Straw dogs are typically easy to burn."

holy-moly abacotolly!

That has to be the most killer name for a metal band I have ever heard.

You should copyright it, right away.

[Quix]

further confounds any conclusions that might have been reached by this study.
- - - - -

Evidently in plenty of minds hereon.

Not in mine. I can recognize when other factors are held more or less constant or more or less randomized.

I find the study uncommonly straight-forward and clean.

I recognize that clean is not to be construed as an automatic and reliably cherished value of whatever percentage of smokers, however.

[383rr]

"Oh, you left out demonic oppression and possession."

dOG-GONE RIGHT.
He should have had an exorcist's opinion threw in this study, you know, for good measure.

[Moonman62]

Red who? Does he smoke?

[383rr]

"I recognize that clean is not to be construed as an automatic and reliably cherished value of whatever percentage of smokers, however."

yOU GOT DAT RIGHT.

So did Lou Gramm. Let HIM elaborate;

Hey, baby, if you're feelin' down
I know what's good for you all day
Are you worried what your friends see
Will it ruin your reputation lovin' me

'Cause I'm a dirty white boy
Yeah a dirty white boy
A dirty white boy

Don't drive no big black car
Don't like no Hollywood movie star
You want me to be true to you
You don't give a damn what I do to you

I'm just a dirty white boy
Dirty white boy, dirty white boy
Dirty white boy, dirty white boy
Dirty white boy
By Foreigner