Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Childhood Linked to Poorer Lung Health in Next Generation
A new study published in the journal Thorax reveals a potential link between secondhand smoke exposure during a man’s childhood and reduced lung health in his children, even into adulthood.The research highlights the possibility of ”intergenerational” effects of smoking, extending beyond those directly exposed to smoke.
Researchers followed 890 fathers in australia whose children were born in the early 1960s,tracking the lung health of both generations until the children reached age 53 in the 2010s.The study focused on fathers who experienced significant secondhand smoke exposure during their own childhoods – defined as having at least one parent smoking at least six days a week before puberty.
The findings indicated that children of fathers exposed to childhood secondhand smoke were 56% more likely to exhibit poor lung function at age 53, as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the amount of air forcefully exhaled in one second. Thes children also demonstrated a faster rate of lung function decline, even without meeting the diagnostic criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Shyamali Dharmage, a professor at the University of Melbourne and a study author, explained to Euronews Health that impaired lung function can begin long before noticeable respiratory illnesses develop.
The connection remained significant even after accounting for factors like socioeconomic status and parental history of asthma. The effect was further amplified if the children themselves were also exposed to secondhand smoke during their childhoods. Notably, the study found high rates of secondhand smoke exposure in both generations – 69% of the fathers and 57% of their children experienced it during childhood. While approximately half of the children had smoked at some point in their lives, their own secondhand smoke exposure accounted for only 10% of the observed relationship between their lung health and their fathers’ exposure.
This research aligns with previous studies suggesting a link between parental secondhand smoke exposure and an increased risk of asthma in children.
Researchers emphasize that this was an observational study and cannot definitively prove a causal relationship. Genetic factors and other unknown variables could also contribute. though, they propose a potential mechanism involving alterations in genetic expression within developing sperm cells due to exposure to harmful substances in cigarette smoke before puberty.
The researchers advocate for preventing secondhand smoke exposure to children, suggesting it could benefit the respiratory health of both current and future generations. Dharmage concluded, “Protecting children from passive smoke could benefit not only their own respiratory health but also that of their offspring.”