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• Study confirms ETS link to childhood wheeze, asthma 

Childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the home is significantly associated with an increased risk for wheeze and asthma, research confirms.

Previous studies have shown that maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for wheeze, asthma, and other health problems in children, explain Yungling Leo Lee (National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan) and colleagues.

But they add that evidence for effects of childhood ETS exposure on respiratory outcomes is inconsistent.

To investigate further, the team studied 5019 children, aged 12–14 years, from 14 Taiwanese communities who participated in the Taiwan Children Health Study. / / /

“Public health policy for reducing the burden of respiratory symptoms may require a stronger focus on smoking cessation in the home, where children could gain significant health benefits.”

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