Children - exposed to cigarette smoke in cars have greater chance of respiratory distress..

September 17, 2009 - Luke Clancy, from the Tobacco Free Research Institute in Dublin, and team explain: “Children (kids, child, youth, youngster)) may be more vulnerable to second-hand smoke (SHS, passive, sidestream, environmental tobacco smoke, ETS, involuntary smoking) -induced respiratory diseases due to smaller airways and greater oxygen demand, as well as a less-mature immune system.” But they add that “there is no evidence quantifying second-hand smoke-induced respiratory health effects in children exposed to second-hand smoke in cars.”

To address this, the team studied 2809 children, aged 13–14 years, selected randomly from schools throughout Ireland. All the children completed questionnaires detailing their exposure to second-hand smoke at home and in cars, and whether they themselves smoked. They were also asked whether they had ever suffered from asthma, hayfever, wheezing, or other respiratory health problems.

PAPER: Second-hand smoke exposure in cars and respiratory health effects in children
Z. Kabir, P. J. Manning, J. Holohan, S. Keogan, P. G. Goodman and L. Clancy, Eur Respir J 2009; 34:629-633, ABSTRACT...

It was found that, overall, 14.8% of the children surveyed were regularly exposed to tobacco smoke when traveling by car. After accounting for tobacco smoke exposure at home and other factors, the researchers found that children exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke in cars were 35% more likely to suffer from wheezing and 30% more likely to have hayfever symptoms than those who were not exposed to second-hand smoke when traveling by car.

Research team comment: “Despite this study showing a tendency towards an increased likelihood of respiratory and allergic symptoms in children when exposed to second-hand smoke in cars, comprehensive longitudinal studies across different population settings are imperative.” However, the researchers add: “Assuming a causal relation, such adverse respiratory symptoms could have a knock-on effect on school absenteeism, and also on being at greater risk for future second-hand smoke related morbidity and mortality.”

Reference: Passive smoking in cars linked to hayfever and wheezing in children by Mark Cowen, MedWire News, 9/15/2009.

Some related news briefs - kids - parent smoking in cars:
More evidence - vehicles most dangerous space for second-hand smoke inhalation..;
New South Wales politician smoking comment totally inaccurate..;
World Asthma Awareness Day..;
Further evidence - STOP smoking in the presence of your children..;
Ireland - ban smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Ontario law banning smoking in cars with children takes effect ..;
Maine - illegal to smoke in cars while children present..;
Ban on smoking in cars when children are present..;