Exposing children to secondhand tobacco smoke could eventually lead to lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease later in life say
Exposing children to secondhand tobacco smoke could eventually lead to lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease later in life say researchers based on findings of a recent study.
In a recent study done about 123,000 people who had either never smoked themselves or had quit smoking for more than 10 years participated in the study. Results showed people who had been exposed to cigarette smoke for many hours a day as children were more than three-times as likely to develop lung cancer in adulthood as those not exposed. Lower exposures were also linked to higher lung cancer risk, with kids exposed a few times a week having about a 1.5-times higher risk and those exposed daily for fewer hours having about a two-times higher risk.The risk of developing other respiratory diseases like COPD or cancer of the larynx were lower, but still significant and former smokers were found to be more affected by secondhand exposure than nonsmokers who were equally exposed thereby running about twice the risk of getting a respiratory disease.
Thus researchers conclude saying that results of their study shows that secondhand tobacco smoke is indeed a significant health hazard.
