Association of prenatal maternal or postnatal child environmental tobacco smoke exposure and neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems in children.

Abstract

We review the potential neurodevelopmental and behavioral effects of children's prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Children's exposure to ETS has been assessed in epidemiologic studies as a risk factor for a variety of behavioral and neurodevelopmenta problems induding reduced general intellectual ability, skills in language and auditory tasks, and academic achievement, and behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and decrease attention spans. We review 17 epidemiologic studies that have attempted to separate the efcs of maternal active smoking during pregnancy from passive ETS smoke exposure by the pregnant mother or the child. Based on the available data, we found that ETS exposure could cause subtle changes in children's neurodevelopment and behavior. However, studies to date are difficult to interpret because of the unknown influence of uncontrolled confounding factors, imprecision in measurements of smoking exposure, and coilinearity of pre-and postnatal maternal smoking. Although some evidence suggests that maternal smoking during pregnancy may be associated with deficits in intellectual ability and behavioral problems in children, the impact of prenatal or postnatal ETS exposure remains less dear.

Exposure to Parental Cigarette Smoking and Child Problem Behaviors: A Longitudinal Study

“…The present results are in accord with previous research, which has demonstrated that exposure to parental cigarette smoking is related to increased rates of behavior problems in the child (Eskenazi and Castorina, 1999). However, our research is the first to show that the history of exposure to parental smoking is linked with both internalizing and externalizing behavior in the child.…”

“…This relationship was maintained despite control on a number of parental psychosocial risk factors that have previously been found to be associated with children's behavior problems. These psychosocial factors include demographic variables (parental gender and age at child's birth; child gender and age; and a combined measure of parental income and educational level as a proxy for parental SES), parental intrapersonal attributes (i.e., depression or unconventionality), and parental child-rearing practices (i.e., affection toward child).The present results are in accord with previous research, which has demonstrated that exposure to parental cigarette smoking is related to increased rates of behavior problems in the child (Eskenazi and Castorina, 1999). However, our research is the first to show that the history of exposure to parental smoking is linked with both internalizing and externalizing behavior in the child.…”

“…The majority of studies have linked maternal smoking during pregnancy with behavioral disturbances in children (Brook, Brook, and Whiteman, 2000;Weitzman, Gortmaker, and Sobol, 1992). A growing body of literature has also looked at the effects of postnatal maternal smoking (Eskenazi and Castorina 1999;Williams et al, 1998). For example, Williams et al (1998) estimated that maternal smoking in early pregnancy might account for 25% of externalizing (aggressive) behaviors, while maternal smoking when the child is 5 years old may account for an additional 16%.…”

Neurocognitive elements of antisocial behavior: Relevance of an orbitofrontal cortex account

“…Similar results were found for obstetrical complications (Arseneault, Tremblay, Boulerice, & Saucier, 2002). Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been related to externalizing disorder problems (i.e., CD, ADHD, and ODD) in childhood (Breslau & Chilcoat, 2000;Orlebeke, Knol, & Verhulst, 1999;Weissman, Wickramaratne, & Kandel, 2000), and into adulthood (Rasanen et al, 1999), as well as poor neurocognitive function in children (Eskenazi & Castorina, 2000). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was also related to number of conduct symptoms in the parents, which suggests a complex intergenerational transmission process (Zoccolillo, 2000).…”

Toxic Threats to Neurologic Development of Children

“…Fetal alcohol exposure causes hyperactivity and cognitive deficits (13). Maternal smoking causes intelligence quotient (IQ), learning, and attention deficits in offspring (14). Early-life lead exposure decreases learning, attention, and IQ and contributes to hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and aggression (15,16).…”