A study in Hong Kong suggests that secondhand smoke can affect the grades of teenagers and children. Secondhand smoke can cause several health threats to children. These include an increased risk of respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. If a pregnant woman smokes, it increases the risk of childhood behavior issues and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Research has also revealed that secondhand smoke affects children’s cognitive skills such as remembering and reasoning.
Study Results
In the Hong Kong study, conducted at the University of Hong Kong, 23,000 non-smoking children and teenagers between 11 to 20 years were respondents. Out of these, one-third who stayed with a smoker at home, described their school grades as “poor”.
Among students who were exposed to secondhand smoke at home for at least five days in a week, 23 percent admitted their school grades were poor. The rate was 20 percent among respondents who reported less frequent exposure to secondhand smoke. Among students from smoke-free homes, only 17 percent reported poor grades.
Other factors also played a part in the study, such as parents’ education levels and type of housing. Both can indicate socioeconomic status. Students exposed to secondhand smoke faced a 14% to 28% higher risk of poor grades. This risk also depended on the frequency of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Limitations of the Study
The research relied on students’ rating of their personal grades and exposure to secondhand smoke. To make future studies more objective, urine samples and school records should be used to gain information on exposure to secondhand smoke and school grades respectively. Moreover, no information was obtained on factors such as whether the students’ mothers smoked during pregnancy, thereby exposing them to smoke in the womb.
Another Reason To Quit Smoking
The researchers of the study noted that toxic substances in tobacco smoke such as hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, arsenic and lead could impact students’ cognitive skills. Therefore, parents should quit smoking as soon as possible to prevent exposing their children to tobacco smoke.
