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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
Anyone, who demands legislation be brought forth that basically, at it's core destoys private property-rights , causes more TAXATION, and destroys freedom of choice regarding a LEGAL product, IS NO CONSERVATIVE.
Now, they might be a republican, but they are no conservative.

They can squall all day long how conservative they are, but I ain't buying their BS anylonger.

And there you have it!  I now know where RINO'S/CINO'S are coming from!

241 posted on 05/24/2006 6:50:19 AM PDT by SheLion ("If you're legal, you can fly with the Eagle!" - Michael Anthony)
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To: Quix

What is the comparison of children's behaviour in other cultures? Do Japanese children behave better than American children? Could culture have any affect on this so called increase in behavoural problems?


242 posted on 05/24/2006 7:12:20 AM PDT by CSM (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.Protagoras)
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To: Quix

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

Do you consider all parents who expose their children to dangerous chemicals to be bad parents?


243 posted on 05/24/2006 7:15:54 AM PDT by CSM (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.Protagoras)
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To: SheLion

you really have to wonder if they are even RINO/CINO's. Or if they are just here to make us look bad


244 posted on 05/24/2006 7:37:48 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: markman46
you really have to wonder if they are even RINO/CINO's. Or if they are just here to make us look bad

You make an excellent point.  But I always check their date of registration, and most of them have been with FR long time.  Which REALLY makes me shake my head.

I'm a Conservative Christian and just because I smoke, they call me the dirtiest names on earth.  As IF they are all that perfect.  `aaaaarrrrrrggghhhhhhh

245 posted on 05/24/2006 7:46:33 AM PDT by SheLion ("If you're legal, you can fly with the Eagle!" - Michael Anthony)
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To: SheLion

I know it gets sooo old after a while.


246 posted on 05/24/2006 8:06:22 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: markman46
I know it gets sooo old after a while.

I don't know why they get so mean and nasty.  Maybe hiding behind a monitor, they feel that it makes them a big man to bash smokers.

I know smoking isn't for everyone, but by golly!  It STILL is legal!  I don't need some idiot coming in and telling me I am dirt because I smoke.

I don't even drink.  Not even beer.  I wish I could still drink, but I don't. hehe  But to them, if I was a raging alcoholic I guess that would be ok as long as I didn't smoke.

Oh well.  What's the use?

247 posted on 05/24/2006 8:25:45 AM PDT by SheLion ("If you're legal, you can fly with the Eagle!" - Michael Anthony)
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To: 383rr

We can recruit right from this forum, as it is ripe with BS. Surely we can achieve the desired results. No, go and begin!

I have a feeling I might be the first target as most of what I say is BS. Oh crap!


248 posted on 05/24/2006 2:36:07 PM PDT by moog
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To: Gabz
I, however have some serious doubts about this forum being conservative.......I've dealt with far too many folks today WHO HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE "NANNY STATE" Sorry for shouting, but that's how I feel. And now I'm going to make my date with my pillow and maybe I will resume this conversation sometime tomorrow........but that's very iffy, as I have far too much to do tomorrow.

Yeah, some of the Reps here were CONGRATULATED for imposing some smoking bans in private clubs and other places. My bone is with the ones who cave in to the SI groups exclusively and not to people. My rep here thinks that and SAID that the legislators here DESERVE SI money for all their hard work.

249 posted on 05/24/2006 2:39:16 PM PDT by moog
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To: moog

No, my lad. The BS we spout is impotent, with very low output.
We need to find high quality grade BS, backed by studies itself, and capable of powering the space shuttle.


Now go! And begin prepping the super BS modulator!


250 posted on 05/24/2006 3:39:53 PM PDT by 383rr ((those who choose security over liberty deserve neither; GUN CONTROL=SLAVERY)
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To: 383rr
No, my lad. The BS we spout is impotent, with very low output. We need to find high quality grade BS, backed by studies itself, and capable of powering the space shuttle. Now go! And begin prepping the super BS modulator!

Guess we need to look for someone who is very impotent then.

251 posted on 05/24/2006 3:45:33 PM PDT by moog
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To: H. Paul Pressler IV
Most people that smoke are addicted and thus have a behavior problem. People that have behavior problems will have children that have behavior problems.

Wow...
Don't know how to start with this one...

252 posted on 05/24/2006 4:58:53 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Multiculturalism is the white flag of a dying country)
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