Toddlers suffer most from secondhand smoke

[Posted: Thu 19/11/2009 by Olivia Fens]

Toddlers and obese children suffer more than other younger people when exposed to secondhand smoke, a new study has found.

In the study, researchers from Ohio State University in the US found a link between secondhand smoke exposure and blood vessel damage in toddlers.

This link was two times greater in toddlers who were obese.

The study also found that toddlers had a four times greater risk of secondhand smoke exposure when compared to adolescents, despite having similar reported home exposures.

Toddlers exposed to secondhand smoke had a 30% reduction in cells involved in repairing and maintaining a healthy blood vessel network.

“The changes we detected in these groups of children are similar to changes that are well recognised risks for heart disease in adults,” the researchers said.

“Our findings add to the importance of eliminating smoking and related exposures, especially for children, and obese children may need to be even more protected from these exposures,” the researchers concluded.

The study was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009.