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Environmental tobacco smoke linked to behavior problems in children and pre-teens
Eurekalert ^ | 04/30/06 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Posted on 05/23/2006 11:53:56 AM PDT by 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.

###

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 2ndhandsmoke; 4thamendmentdying; 4thechildren; 4thecommongood; child; children; coughcough; denial; dontstart; kid; kids; kidz; littlekids; pufflist; quit; teen; teenager; teens; timetoquit; wodlist
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To: 383rr

They tell me the "research" says that having a handgun in your home makes it 40 times more likely that a family member will commit suicide, and that if banning handguns "saves just one child" it's all worth it, and I'm just a selfish bastard if I don't agree.


181 posted on 05/23/2006 7:13:06 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Gabz

But at least I know there are some Walmartians you like!!!!!

Yeah, and I realize I just spelled it wrong. I was late getting out the spelling list this week. Yeah, there are many Walmartians I like even though I'm not one of them. I'm not even a targetteer, a Blue Light Bunny, or even Searsious shopper. I had to buy some clothes the other day--I got sick for 2 days after that!


182 posted on 05/23/2006 7:13:20 PM PDT by moog
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To: 383rr

I think it actually is because of the cows burping.
We have had an increase in meth-ane labs you know.


183 posted on 05/23/2006 7:15:08 PM PDT by moog
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To: Quix
ANYTHING that hurts kids; decreases kids' chances of being at their best is IMPORTANT, TO ME.

Fine. You worry about your kids, I'll worry about mine. Try and poke your overly long proboscis into my business and I'll remove it for you.

I noticed you didn't formulate a coherent reply to my last summation of the situation. You stated that no correlation was present in the study, and yet there was also no direct causative link defined between increased cotinine levels in asthmatics and behavioral issues in general. Specifically any links between non-asmatic children and increased cotinine levels which would be a control study for any factors related between having asthma and behavioral issues.

In essence, you don't have a flipping clue what you are talking about. You just think smoking is icky and there "oughta be a law".

Smoking is icky. That is why I quite. Almost 4 years ago now. No law required. No should there be.

There is a colossal waste of tax money going on in government whereby useless studies based on junk science are used to justify expanding government power and litigative actions.

This has to stop before it destroys the entire country along with everything else that is going on.

184 posted on 05/23/2006 7:15:53 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time.)
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To: Quix


I did comment about a general, global impression I have on these threads. General--as in no specific--as in G E N E R A L--with all the hazards that go with being general.

DANG--you outrank me!:)


185 posted on 05/23/2006 7:16:18 PM PDT by moog
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To: 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.<<

"Associated" isn't the same as "caused."


186 posted on 05/23/2006 7:17:17 PM PDT by gondramB (He who angers you, in part, controls you. But he may not enjoy what the rest of you does about it.)
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To: gondramB

"Associated" isn't the same as "caused."

Too many real ones put into those candy cigarettes I think. :)


187 posted on 05/23/2006 7:18:56 PM PDT by moog
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To: Quix
But not a wholesale narrow, rigid, blindly biased, selfishly motivated toss in the trash of every aspect of solid research.

Like I said, tobacco use has been on the decline for that last 20 years, and they claim these "behavioural problems" have been on the increase for the last 20 years. The only evidence this "study" considers is the tobacco smoke, and they conclude that it is responsible for that increase. I'm not sure what your definition of "solid research" is, but this isn't lining up with mine.

188 posted on 05/23/2006 7:19:07 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Moonman62

This is so much BS. Back in the 30's and 40's, most people smoked and children were far better behaved. Another suck-butt lib lie!


189 posted on 05/23/2006 7:19:24 PM PDT by lawdude (Liberalism is a mental illness!)
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To: tacticalogic

"They tell me the "research" says that having a handgun in your home makes it 40 times more likely that a family member will commit suicide, and that if banning handguns "saves just one child" it's all worth it, and I'm just a selfish bastard if I don't agree."


It's the same warped logic used with tobacco. Legal product, but they want to control it, tax the hell out of it, then ban it. No good can come of these things. Hitler had a anti-tobacco campaign too, along with fire-arm confiscations, and book-burnings. We saw how he helped the "children", didn't we.


190 posted on 05/23/2006 7:19:37 PM PDT by 383rr ((those who choose security over liberty deserve neither; GUN CONTROL=SLAVERY)
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To: mysterio
As Nazi prison camp victim Jewish psychiatrist Vicktor Frankel said so accurately:

THERE IS
NO
FREEDOM
WITHOUT
RESPONSIBILITY!

Wishing it otherwise won't change that fact.

Pretending it's otherwise doesn't change that fact.

Pontificating as though it's otherwise doesn't change that fact.

Libertarians love to talk about the freedom to do whatever as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.

The overwhelming majority of the evidence demonstrates that second hand smoke is destructive. One can argue about the degree and the implications but that it is destructive is born out by an abundance of evidence.

Many justify ignoring the evidence.

I don't consider selfishness a good justification for anything. It's certainly not a good justification for freedom. The only good, solid, lasting, effective, true foundation for freedom, other than God, is personal RESPONSIBILITY.

There is NO GROUNDS from any solid research--particularly repeated research--which justifies any assumption that there is NO 0.00000% causation between second hand smoke and destructiveness in children's health and lives.

Pretending otherwise does NOT make it so.

The science is solid. The implications are debatable. I see no evidence of purposeful misinterpretation except by the smokers on this thread.

191 posted on 05/23/2006 7:19:45 PM PDT by Quix ( PREPARE . . . PRAY . . . PLACE your trust, hope, faith and life in God's hands moment by moment)
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To: moog

I bet you've been busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger, I know I have been.


192 posted on 05/23/2006 7:20:57 PM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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To: Gabz

Thank you for your personally addressed assault and insult.

Thankfully, I know that THE TRUTH in a multitude of subject areas is a keen priority and interest to me--including this subject area.

It would be great to believe that was true about all FREEPERS.


193 posted on 05/23/2006 7:21:40 PM PDT by Quix ( PREPARE . . . PRAY . . . PLACE your trust, hope, faith and life in God's hands moment by moment)
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To: moog

"I think it actually is because of the cows burping.
We have had an increase in meth-ane labs you know."

LOL!


194 posted on 05/23/2006 7:22:01 PM PDT by 383rr ((those who choose security over liberty deserve neither; GUN CONTROL=SLAVERY)
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To: Quix

The science is solid. The implications are debatable. I see no evidence of purposeful misinterpretation except by the smokers on this thread.

There may be some evidence for smoking affecting fetuses, but I haven't seen it in kids much. In fact, my next door neighbors smoke heavily and their kid is the best behaved kid on the block. I am a nonsmoker by the way and will always be that way--I can't stand the smoke. But I do think that smoking does not make a person a bad person.


195 posted on 05/23/2006 7:22:52 PM PDT by moog
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To: Quix
The science is solid. The implications are debatable. I see no evidence of purposeful misinterpretation except by the smokers on this thread.

Do you think this article was posted purely for scientific discussion, or as evidence to support a goverment imposed ban?

196 posted on 05/23/2006 7:23:36 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: 383rr

Those cowpies have become much more enriched in recent years.


197 posted on 05/23/2006 7:23:38 PM PDT by moog
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To: tacticalogic

I think one of us misread the research.

I do not recall the research blaming

all

that increase on second hand smoke at all.

This is getting dull and wearying. I'll likely bow out before long. Cheers.


198 posted on 05/23/2006 7:24:05 PM PDT by Quix ( PREPARE . . . PRAY . . . PLACE your trust, hope, faith and life in God's hands moment by moment)
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To: Gabz

I bet you've been busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger, I know I have been

Or a no-handed window washer. I did get a teaching award the other day. It was neat that a parent would take that amount of time out of a busy schedule to go through so much trouble in nominating me. It's been weird two weeks or so.


199 posted on 05/23/2006 7:25:28 PM PDT by moog
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To: Quix
Oh, I think most research warrants a skeptical eye.

That is a good perspective to have. As should everyone.

But not a wholesale narrow, rigid, blindly biased, selfishly motivated toss in the trash of every aspect of solid research.

When I find some solid research that is not narrow, rigid, blindly biased, and selfishly motivated from the anti-smokers I'll be more than happy to talk with you about it.

200 posted on 05/23/2006 7:25:54 PM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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