Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Objective passive-smoking indicators and respiratory morbidity in young children

C G Bakoula1, Y J Kafritsa, G D Kavadias

  • 1First Department of Paediatrics, Athens University, Greece.

Lancet (London, England)
|July 29, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure significantly increases respiratory illness in young children. Objective urinary cotinine measurements confirmed this link, highlighting the need for smoke-free environments for child health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Environmental Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is a known risk factor for childhood respiratory issues.
  • Objective assessment of ETS exposure using biomarkers like urinary cotinine is less common in pediatric studies.
  • Understanding the precise relationship between ETS and respiratory morbidity in young children is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To objectively assess the association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory morbidity in children aged 1-5 years.
  • To utilize urinary cotinine levels as a biomarker for quantifying ETS exposure.
  • To determine the increased likelihood of respiratory illness in children exposed to ETS compared to non-exposed children.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 501 children aged 1-5 years attending an outpatient clinic was studied.
  • Urinary cotinine levels were measured to classify children as exposed or non-exposed to ETS (cut-off: 10 ng cotinine/mg creatinine).
  • Respiratory morbidity was defined as three or more episodes in the previous 12 months; statistical adjustments were made for confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke were 3.5 times more likely to experience increased respiratory morbidity.
  • The association remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors (95% CI 1.56-7.90, p < 0.0024).
  • Objective cotinine measurement provided a reliable indicator of ETS exposure and its health impact.

Conclusions:

  • Objective measurement of urinary cotinine confirms a significant association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and increased respiratory morbidity in young children.
  • These findings underscore the importance of reducing ETS exposure to prevent respiratory illnesses in pediatric populations.
  • Public health strategies should focus on creating smoke-free environments to protect children's respiratory health.

More Related Videos

Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India09:33

Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India

Published on: December 23, 2022

Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters05:18

Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters

Published on: July 12, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of Respiration01:23

Assessment of Respiration

The respiratory system's basic structures and primary functions lay the foundation for nurses' comprehensive respiratory assessments. This assessment includes subjective and objective data to gauge the patient's respiratory health.
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History01:28

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History

Physical assessment of the respiratory tract is critical to patient care. It allows healthcare professionals to identify and manage various respiratory conditions. The process involves a combination of subjective and objective data collection.
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and key...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction01:20

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction01:23

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...