CDC: Over one-third of U.S. youth exposed to secondhand smoke

CDC: over one-third of U.S. youth exposed to secondhand smoke

(HealthDay)—More than one-third of U.S. nonsmoking youth are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) from tobacco, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Debra J. Brody, M.P.H., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, and colleagues describe the prevalence of SHS exposure among nonsmoking youth in 2013 to 2016, as defined by serum cotinine.

The researchers found that 35.4 percent of U.S. nonsmoking youth aged 3 to 17 years were exposed to SHS from tobacco in 2013 to 2016. The percentage of SHS exposure was higher for children aged 3 to 11 versus those aged 12 to 17 years; exposure was similar for boys and girls. Compared with non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic youth, the percentage of non-Hispanic black youth exposed to SHS was higher (61.8 versus 34.3, 18.3, and 24.9 percent, respectively). With decreasing family income, there was an increase in the percentage of SHS-exposed youth. The percentage of SHS-exposed youth was more than three times higher for those living with two or more tobacco smokers versus those not living with a smoker.

"SHS exposure was detected in almost one-quarter of youth who did not live in a home with a smoker," the authors write. "Programs and practices that restrict smoking in public and private spaces and declines in tobacco use help to limit exposure to SHS."

More information: Abstract/Full Text

Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: CDC: Over one-third of U.S. youth exposed to secondhand smoke (2019, August 15) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-08-cdc-one-third-youth-exposed-secondhand.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

One in five workers exposed to secondhand smoke on the job

3 shares

Feedback to editors