Yes eight out of ten babies with smoking parents have high nicotine levels in their hair, your lungs are also affected in one way or another. The encouraging news is that the number of babies with nicotine residues decreases if they intervene in the families in which this happens.
The hair of a group of infants with smoking parents has been analyzed since each centimeter of hair collects a month of exposure to tobacco. 79% of babies were exposed to harmful levels of nicotine. 25% of the babies, the most exposed, had levels that were equivalent to those of an active smoker.
These are data extracted from the BIBE study (for its acronym in English, Brief Intervention Babies Effectiveness) conducted by the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT) in 83 Primary Care Centers in Catalonia. These conclusions have been published in the latest issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
In Babies and more, they will take away a parent from the custody of their two children for smoking (a lot) in front of themOther interesting questions are those related to the socioeconomic context of the babies most exposed to tobacco, since they were families with a lower level. Babies with more tobacco-dependent parents and those who used incorrect measures to protect their children (such as smoking with the kitchen fan on) also had high levels of nicotine, or those who slept in the same room (in which, I imagine , also smoked).
After six months of intervention, and to which we return to the good news that I commented at the beginning, it has been achieved that 51% of these babies clearly decrease nicotine levels In the hair.
The study has focused on the advice of health professionals to parents to learn how to avoid exposing their babies effectively: or quit smoking or never smoke inside the house or in the car. These tips have been effective, so they should be included in pediatric reviews, for example, or in specific health programs.
Babies and children, the most vulnerable
These are some of the conclusions that have led to the start of the "Childhood without smoke" program ("Infància sense fum") in Catalonia, which we talked to you recently since they have published an interesting guide on the subject.
It is always good to remember that passive smoking has important detrimental effects on the health of children, and that babies are especially vulnerable, since, for example, their respiratory rate is higher than that of adults and, therefore, they inhale more toxic in relation to weight and height.
In Babies and more World No Tobacco Day: half of Spanish children live with a smoker in their homes and carsSome risks of passive smoking in babies They are sudden death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, meningococcal infection, worsening asthma, a moderate deterioration of lung function, otitis media, irritation of eyes and respiratory tract, bronchiolitis ...
Anyway, although we are aware of all the harm that tobacco does to ourselves, we cannot forget that children are also exposed to their dangers even if they do not take a drag on cigarettes. Why If you smoke with children and live in homes where you smoke, nicotine will reach your body, either the hair or the lungs.
Official Site | ASPCAT
More information | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
In Babies and more | Don't smoke me! I want to grow smoke-free, does tobacco tempt you? Ten steps to quit smoking in pregnancy
