A new study to denounce passive smoking. In addition to the effects on children's health, early exposure to tobacco increases the risk of behavioral disorders.
Passive smoking would have far more impact on children's health than previously thought. Beyond the respiratory diseases that can be declared, a study of INSERM and UMPC showed that environmental tobacco smoke can cause behavioral problems in younger people.
Primary school children
The Pr Isabella Annesi-Maesano worked in collaboration with the university hospitals of six French cities, to analyze the case of 5 children attending primary school. The parents of the latter were asked to complete two questionnaires. The first looked at their smoking habits, to determine whether children had been exposed to fumes during pregnancy, and after birth. Moreover, they fulfilled the Questionnaire Strengths and Difficulties, a standardized test that assesses children's behavioral functioning and determines whether they are suffering from emotional disturbances.
The grouping and analysis of the responses to the two questionnaires revealed a link between early passive smoking and the development of behavioral disorders.
The altered brain structure
So, until 21% of childrenexposed during pregnancy or at an early age to environmental tobacco smoke exhibited emotional disturbances. Thanks to observations made on animals, researchers have been able to explain this phenomenon.
According to them, during pregnancy, nicotine can alter the structure of the baby's brain, by acting on certain receptors present there. In addition, in the first few months after birth, smoke can cause protein imbalance that impairs neuronal growth. Nicotine could therefore be at the origin of the observed behavioral disorders. The team of INSERM calls therefore for increased vigilance with regard to passive smoking and more prevention.
Source : Pourquoidocteur.fr
