Relationship between Caregivers’ Smoking at Home and Urinary Levels of Cotinine in Children

Yun Wang, Mei Yang, Lang Tian, Zhiqiang Huang, Faming Chen, Jingsong Hu, Fuzhi Wang, Gui Chen and Shuiyuan Xiao
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Yun Wang: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
Mei Yang: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
Lang Tian: Department of Pediatrics, the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
Zhiqiang Huang: Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Changsha 410004, China
Faming Chen: Changsha Central for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha 410001, China
Jingsong Hu: Changsha Central for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha 410001, China
Fuzhi Wang: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
Gui Chen: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
Shuiyuan Xiao: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Objective : To assess the impact of different smoking behaviors of caregivers on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in children aged 5–6 years in Changsha, China. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional, random digit-dial telephone survey of caregivers ( n = 543) between August and October 2013. Caregivers’ smoking behaviors were collected by a questionnaire. Exposure assessment was based upon determination of urinary cotinine levels in children employing gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Results : In children not living with a smoker, children living with one smoker, and children living with more than one smoker at home, median urinary cotinine concentrations (ng/mL) were 0.72, 2.97, and 4.46, respectively. For children living with one smoker, median urinary cotinine levels of children exposed to ETS were associated with caregiver smoking behaviors, i.e. , if a caregiver consumed more cigarettes (>20 compared with ?10; 7.73 versus 2.29 ng/mL, respectively). Conclusions : The magnitude of ETS exposure in children is correlated with the smoking behaviors of the caregiver. Counseling for smoking cessation and educational interventions are needed urgently for smoking caregivers to increase their awareness about ETS exposure and to encourage smoking cessation at home or to take precautions to protect children’s health.

Keywords: smoking; caregiver; environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); children; gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS); cotinine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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