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Parental smoking and lung function: misclassification due to background exposure to passive smoking
Giuseppe M Corbo1, Nera Agabiti, Riccardo Pistelli
1Department of Respiratory Physiology, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. gmcorbo@yahoo.com
Respiratory Medicine
|September 27, 2006
Summary
Background environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure significantly impacts adolescent lung function. Studies on parental smoking effects must account for ETS from other sources to accurately assess health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Parental smoking is a known risk factor for adolescent respiratory health.
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure can occur from sources other than parental smoking, termed 'background exposure'.
- The impact of background ETS on adolescent lung function, independent of parental smoking, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of background ETS exposure in assessing the effects of parental smoking on adolescent lung function.
- To determine if accounting for non-parental ETS sources modifies the observed impact of parental smoking.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 937 adolescents in the Lazio Region.
- Data collection via questionnaires, lung function tests (FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio), and urinary cotinine-to-creatinine ratios (CCR).
- Analysis stratified by parental smoking status and background ETS exposure (defined by CCR levels).
Main Results:
- 62.1% of adolescents reported parental smoking.
- Among those without parental smoking, 25.9% had elevated CCR, indicating background ETS exposure.
- Adolescents with smoking parents showed higher FVC and lower FEV1/FVC ratios.
- Excluding background ETS exposure from the unexposed group amplified the observed negative lung function effects attributed to parental smoking.
Conclusions:
- Background ETS exposure significantly influences the assessment of parental smoking's impact on adolescent lung function.
- Studies reporting null or reduced effects of parental smoking may be confounded by unmeasured background ETS.
- Accurate evaluation of ETS health effects necessitates consideration of all exposure sources in adolescents.
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