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Newark, NJ— Pediatric pulmonologist Sushmita Mikkilineni, M.D., already knew the dangers of secondhand smoke to children from years of treating young asthmatic patients. Now, a new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the first to show significant evidence of increased tobacco smoke exposure in the blood of children who live in multi-unit housing, even if no one smokes in their unit.
The study has been cause for concern for Dr. Mikkilineni, the Director of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology Medicine at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, who treats many young patients living in urban areas and multi-family dwellings.
“Tobacco smoke exposure results in a wide range of health problems for children, including asthma, pneumonia, middle ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome and bronchitis ,” says Dr. Mikkilineni. “This study shows the danger of tobacco smoke to children even if they live in a non-smoking home with smokers in nearby units.”
The study, “Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children Who Live in Multiunit Housing,” will appear in the January 2011 issue of Pediatrics. Researchers compared tobacco-smoke biomarkers in children who live in various types of housing. The study found that among children who live in households where no one smokes, those who live in apartments have a 45 percent increase in cotinine levels (an indicator of tobacco smoke exposure) compared with children who live in detached homes.
Dr. Mikkilineni reports that young, developing lungs receive relatively higher levels of toxins than older lungs. Although an infant takes small breaths the respiratory rate of a child is much higher. Until a child is about 5 years old, the respiratory rate is usually between 20 and 60 breaths per minute compared with adult’s rate of 14 to 18 times a minute. These toxins are irritating and damaging to the airways and interfere with natural protective mechanisms making those exposed more prone to infections and asthma.
Secondhand smoke contains more that 4,000 substances, several of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, according to the Environment Protection Agency. About 60 percent of American children ages 4–11 are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
“All children deserve to live in a home environment that protects their health and safety,” adds Dr. Mikkilineni.
Those who need help to quit smoking can find support Information at the Quit Line: 1-866-NJ-STOPS or call the Saint Barnabas Health Care System Tobacco Dependence Treatment Program: at (973) 926-7978.
For More Information
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, a 673-bed regional care teaching hospital, provides comprehensive health care to its local communities and is a major referral and treatment center for the northern New Jersey metropolitan area. With more than 800 physicians, 3,200 employees and 150 volunteers, the Medical Center has over 300,000 outpatient visits and 25,000 admissions annually. The main phone number for Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, located at 201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace in Newark, is (973) 926-7000, or visit www.barnabashealth.org. For physician referral information, please call 1-888-724-7123. Follow us on Twitter: get real time news from the Saint Barnabas Health Care System at www.twitter.com/barnabas_health .
Date: December 16, 2010
Contact: Beth Salamon
Public Relations
Phone: 973.322.4926
esalamon@barnabashealth.org
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