Babies who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to be aggressive adults

Even temporary exposure to passive smoke can cause lasting damage to the brains of children under 10 Findings regardless of whether mother smoked during pregnancy or parental history of anti-social behaviour
By Emma Robertson PUBLISHED: 18:24 GMT, 21 May 2013 | UPDATED: 18:24 GMT, 21 May 2013

Young children and babies forced to breathe second-hand cigarette smoke are more likely to be aggressive and anti-social as adults, according to new research. Even brief periods of passive smoking have been found to cause lasting damage to the brains of children under 10, leading to negative changes in their behaviour. Dr Linda Pagani and Dr Caroline Fitzpatrick, of the University of Montreal in Canada, said that children who came into contact with second-hand smoke are more to likely develop deviant behavioural characteristics.

Even small amounts of second-hand cigarette smoke can cause negative changes in behaviour when a child grows up (posed by models)

These finding were regardless of whether their mothers smoked while they were pregnant or their parents had a history of anti-social behaviour. Dr Pagani said in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health: 'Exposure to this smoke at early childhood is particularly dangerous, as the child's brain is still developing. 'I looked at data that was collected from about 2,055 kids from their birth until ten years of age, including

parent reports about second-hand smoke exposure and from teachers and children themselves about classroom behaviour. 'Those having been exposed to second-hand smoke, even temporarily, were much more likely to report themselves as being more aggressive by time they finished fourth grade (year five).' The study is based on research that found 'sidestream' smoke can be more toxic than 'mainstream' smoke exhaled by the smoker. Secondhand smoke comprises 85 per cent sidestream smoke, which comes straight from a burning cigarette and 15 per cent inhaled and then exhaled mainstream smoke.

Previous research has found 'sidestream' passive smoke from burning cigarettes is more toxic than smoke which has been inhaled then exhaled

Sidestream smoke is considered more toxic than mainstream smoke because it contains a higher concentration of many dispersed respirable pollutants over a longer exposure period. Dr Pagani said: 'We know that the starvation of oxygen caused by smoke exposure in the developing central nervous system can cause low birth weight and slowed fetal brain growth. 'Environmental sources of tobacco smoke represent the most passive and preventable cause of disease and disability. This study suggests that the postnatal period is important for the prevention of impaired neurobehavioural development and makes the case for the promotion of an unpolluted domestic environment for children.' Dr Pagani and Dr Fitzpatrick used existing data that health authorities in Quebec collect every year to uncover the link. Dr Pagani said: 'Previous studies looking at groups of children have generally asked mothers whether they smoked or not, and how much at each follow-up, rather than asking whether someone smoked in the home where young children live and play.

'Furthermore, few studies have looked at anti-social behaviour in the parents and even fewer have investigated the subsequent influence of prolonged exposure to second hand smoke over the long term. 'None have taken into account the fact that disadvantaged families are less likely to participate in a long study like this one, which of course skews the statistics.'

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Comments (61)
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View all No one should smoke near children or non smoking adults for that matter. What puzzles me is that in WA smokers have been reduced to about 11% of the population for many years now, but the explosion in fatal diseases is still attributed to smoking. It's all very well having breasts and prostrates removed to prevent cancer, but why is no one asking why such diseases are now reaching epidemic proportions? It's all very well that the Food and Drug Agencies assure us that all the thousands of additives in our food and drink are all harmless, but look at a cigarette and you and everyone within 500 metres is going to die. Newsflash! We all die. - tom bowden , perth, Australia, 22/5/2013 04:41 Click to rate Report abuse I certainly do not condone smoking around kids- or at all, if it comes to it- but my youngest son's friend is a very sweet young man and his parents smoke around him all of the time. It makes me incredibly angry, especially since he is only 11 years old and has ASTHMA and is also overweight. I used to smoke 20 years ago but I would NEVER smoke if I was intending to get pregnant, was pregnant or had a child in my house. Sometimes I wish I could adopt my son's friend and give him a healthy up bringing. - Penelope , Australia, 22/5/2013 03:58 Click to rate Report abuse Oh dear Lord! Not *another* Canadian university study. This is our tax dollars at work world. A group of under educated jobs worth trying to foist another ridiculous theory on the world in order to gain grant money. - Peter , Toronto, Canada, 22/5/2013 03:38 Click to rate Report abuse What rubbish - johnny , london, 22/5/2013 03:24 Click to rate Report abuse Maybe the explanation for these results is that people who smoke are maybe not as likely to discipline their kids or raise them properly, meaning that the kids think they can get away with bad behaviour. - LogieBear , Auckland, New Zealand, 22/5/2013 03:11 Click to rate Report abuse omg are you serious - ray , Southampton, 22/5/2013 02:48 Click to rate Report abuse So our grandparents and parents bred monsters then. What a load of poppycock. - Marion , Pererenan, Indonesia, 22/5/2013 02:04 Click to rate Rating 16 Rating 4 Rating 1 Rating 2 Rating 3 Rating (0) Rating (0)

Report abuse Absolute nonsense, I come from a family of six kids with parents who smoked heavily around us, we are all sociable & non aggressive. We grew up next door to a couple with 9 kids & exactly the same. If that study is right then surely the chances are that one of us would be affected? - Sassy1 , London uk, 22/5/2013 01:56 Click to rate Report abuse It is clear on the Junk Science website that passive smoking is a myth. - ken mist , paris, 22/5/2013 01:49 Click to rate Report abuse What a load of crap !! It's bad for their health !! - joe , great Britain, 22/5/2013 01:20 Click to rate Report abuse The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Today's headlines Most Read 'If my son was a dog, I'd have him put down': Mother whose son suffers from ADHD says she is fed up of her daily, violent battles with him Why ALL women should freeze their eggs at 30 (and their parents should foot the bill, like mine did) Vitamin D 'helps beat symptoms of asthma': Supplements could soon be used as treatment alongside other drugs Boys with ADHD are more likely to become obese as adults Bad weather could raise your blood pressure and even kill you Air travel 'poses no risk to pregnant women and unborn babies' as long as they fly before the 37th week Camomile tea 'fights cancer': Chemical contained in drink takes away 'superpowers' in disease's cells Tuck in! Eating sweets regularly DOESN'T make you more likely to be fat or develop heart disease Suicide can be 'contagious' - teens up to FIVE times more likely to have suicidal thoughts after death of a friend The secret to a long and healthy life? A HIGH-rise flat: People who live below the eighth floor are 22% more likely to die early The blood test that can identify women most at risk of post-natal depression Young mother is a 'ticking timebomb' due to EIGHT tumours that cause hearing loss and balance problems - and there's a 50% chance her son could inherit the condition MORE HEADLINES 'If my son was a dog, I'd have him put down': Mother whose son suffers from ADHD says she is fed up of her daily, violent battles with him Bright teenager gains highest English A-level in the country despite predictions she would fail after doctors diagnosed her with dyspraxia Camomile tea 'fights cancer': Chemical contained in drink takes away 'superpowers' in disease's cells Iodine in pregnancy 'vital for the baby's future brain power' Handsome men are less prone to COLDS - but the same can't be said for beautiful women Tina and her daughters are all obese - but it's not their fault, it's their genes Bad weather could raise your blood pressure and even kill you More than 15,000 patients are dying in Britain every year as a result of cancer treatments rather than the disease itself, warns Lord Saatchi Babies who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to be aggressive adults Tuck in! Eating sweets regularly DOESN'T make you more likely to be fat or develop heart disease The secret to a long and healthy life? A HIGH-rise flat: People who live below the eighth floor are 22% more likely to die early Should you be taking vitamin B to protect against Alzheimer's? Rating 6 Rating 4 Rating 6

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