Decline In Exposure To Secondhand Smoke

A new study in England published in the Journal Addiction found that contact to household secondhand smoke among children between 4-15 has declined steadily since 1996 among children in England.


The study was done by analyzing saliva samples for a substance called cotinine which is an indicator of tobacco smoke exposure. The surveys were conducted over a 10 year period of time from samples of over 19,000 children.

The results showed children's exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased noticeably since the mid-nineties with the largest decline between 2005 and 2006.

The research also reveals that secondhand smoke exposure in non-smoking children is highest when one or both parents smoke, when the children are looked after by carers that smoke, and when smoking is allowed in the home. Dr Michelle Sims, first author of the paper, adds: "the importance of carer and parental smoking and household exposure tells us that reducing exposure in the home is the key to reducing the health risks associated with secondhand smoke exposure in children."
I Want To Quit Smoking Too

Dr Anna Gilmore, who led the project, said "this study shows that the factors which most strongly influence children's exposure are modifiable. Parents and carers can reduce their children's exposure to smoke by giving up smoking, or failing this, making a decision to smoke outside the house. Stopping others from smoking in their house is also important. The fact that children's exposure has already fallen so markedly shows that making these changes is feasible."