We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Secondhand smoke is associated with heavy metal concentrations in children.
- Authors
Li, Li; Guo, Li; Chen, Xingjie; Xiang, Mingli; Yang, Fang; Ren, Jing-chao; Zhang, Guang-hui
- Abstract
Secondhand smoke (SHS) has adverse effects on health, particularly for children. Our purpose was to analyze the correlation between SHS exposure and heavy metal concentrations in children. The investigation was conducted in Xinxiang County, Henan Province, China, from August 2015 to December 2015. In total, 821 students (433 boys and 388 girls) were recruited, and the contents of heavy metals in their hair-including chromium, manganese, nickel, arsenic, lead, and cadmium-were detected by ICP-MS. The children's parents were informed, and a questionnaire was conducted, which included questions about smoking habits and demographic characteristics. Our results indicate that all parent smokers are fathers, 48.9% of fathers who are smokers, but 25.2% of fathers smoke in front of their children. The levels of chromium (median girls vs boys, μg/g) (2.36 vs 2.06, p < 0.001), nickel (1.28 vs 0.97, p < 0.001), arsenic (0.55 vs 0.49, p < 0.001), and lead (2.73 vs 2.16, p < 0.001) in girls were significantly higher than in boys. The levels of cadmium (median, SHS group vs control: 0.43 vs 0.29 (μg/g), p < 0.001) and lead (median, SHS group vs control: 2.71 vs 2.27 (μg/g), p = 0.007) in the SHS group were significantly higher than in the control. Multi-linear regression analysis indicated that SHS exposure in children is very likely to be correlated with increasing levels of lead (β (95% CI): 0.53 (0.99-5.14), p = 0.023) and cadmium (β (95% CI): 0.43 (0.14-0.73), p = 0.003) in their hair. In conclusion, children exposed to SHS have increased lead and cadmium accumulations in the body.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>In our study, 821 students (433 boys and 388 girls) were recruited, and the contents of heavy metals in their hair-including chromium, manganese, nickel, arsenic, lead, and cadmium-were detected by ICP-MS. And the secondhand smoking (SHS) exposure was inquired by face-to-face investigation of their parents. We illustrated that children exposed to SHS have increased lead and cadmium accumulations in the body. What is Known: • Secondhand smoke (SHS) has adverse effects on health, particularly for children. • There might be correlation between SHS exposure and heavy metal concentrations in children. What is New: • The levels of chromium, nickel, arsenic, and lead in girls were significantly higher than in boys. • SHS exposure in children was correlated with increasing levels of lead and cadmium in their hair because of exposure to SHS.
- Subjects
CHINA; PASSIVE smoking in children; LEAD in the body; CADMIUM in the body; INDUCTIVELY coupled plasma mass spectrometry; CHROMIUM in the body; MANGANESE in the body; ANALYSIS of heavy metals; HAIR; PASSIVE smoking; POLLUTANTS; REGRESSION analysis; RESEARCH funding; SPECTROPHOTOMETRY; ENVIRONMENTAL exposure
- Publication
European Journal of Pediatrics, 2018, Vol 177, Issue 2, p257
- ISSN
0340-6199
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00431-017-3053-2