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Prenatal Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Hyperactivity Behavior in Chinese Young Children
Qingmei Lin1,2, Xiang-Yu Hou3,4, Xiao-Na Yin5
1School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. linqm01@163.com.
Insights
Prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is linked to a higher risk of hyperactivity in young children. Reducing prenatal ETS exposure is crucial for child development and public health initiatives.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Environmental Health
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a global concern.
- Understanding the impact of ETS on child neurodevelopment is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal ETS exposure and hyperactivity behaviors in young children.
- To quantify the risk and dose-response relationship between prenatal ETS and hyperactivity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 21,243 kindergarten children in Shenzhen, China.
- Multivariate logistic regression and hierarchical linear models were used for analysis.
- Adjusted for confounders including gender, preterm birth, and birth asphyxiation.
Main Results:
- Prenatal ETS exposure significantly increased the risk of hyperactivity behaviors (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.28-1.77).
- A dose-response relationship was observed: higher ETS exposure correlated with increased hyperactivity.
- Exposure during any trimester of pregnancy was associated with higher hyperactivity risk (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Prenatal ETS exposure negatively impacts offspring's hyperactivity behaviors.
- Public health interventions are necessary to decrease prenatal ETS exposure.
- Further research into mechanisms linking ETS and hyperactivity is warranted.
Abstract:
This study aimed to examine the association between prenatal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and hyperactivity behaviors in young children. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 21,243 participants from all of the kindergartens in Longhua District of Shenzhen, China. Multivariate logistic regression models and hierarchical linear models were employed to assess the associations. After adjusting for potential confounders of gender, preterm birth, birth asphyxiation, etc., prenatal ETS exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperactivity behaviors in young children (OR (95% CI) = 1.51 (1.28-1.77); β (95% CI) = 0.017 (0.013-0.020)). Along with increases in children's prenatal ETS exposure dose (measured by daily ETS exposure duration, daily cigarette consumption by household members, and overall score of prenatal ETS exposure), the children were also increasingly more likely to exhibit hyperactivity behaviors. Furthermore, children whose mothers had prenatal ETS exposure in any one or more of the pregnancy trimesters were more likely to exhibit hyperactivity behaviors as compared with those born to non-exposure mothers (all p < 0.05). Overall, prenatal ETS exposure could be associated with a detrimental impact on offspring's hyperactivity behaviors, and public health efforts are needed to reduce prenatal ETS exposure.
