Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Adult-Onset Asthma: A Population-Based Incident Case–Control Study

Abstract

This study indicates for the first time that both cumulative lifetime and recent ETS exposures increase the risk of adult-onset asthma.

Lifetime environmental tobacco smoke exposure and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Although direct cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD, up to two cases out of ten cannot be explained solely by direct smoking [5]. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, which appears to cause new cases of asthma, could also cause COPD [6][7][8]. Because it contains potent airway irritants, ETS could lead to chronic airway irritation, inflammation, and obstruction [6,9].…”

Decline in respiratory symptoms in service workers five months after a public smoking ban

“…ETS has been shown to be a likely risk factor for coronary artery disease, 1 2 stroke, 3 lung cancer, 4 5 and obstructive lung disease. [5][6][7] Respiratory symptoms are associated with both personal smoking 8 9 and ETS. 10 11 Most studies on the effect of ETS on respiratory health show a higher effect of ETS at the workplace compared with ETS at home, 10 12 13 usually interpreted as a dose response effect as the level of ETS is higher at work than at home for most subjects.…”

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and asthma

“…Cumulative ETS exposure over a lifetime at work and at home increased the risk. This study indicated that both cumulative lifetime and recent ETS exposures increased the risk of adult-onset asthma (21). The role of passive smoking exposure on developing adult asthma has been studied also in Cohort studies (22).…”

“…Environmental tobacco smoke exposure was also significantly associated with prevalence of respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, cough and breathlessness (20). Jakkola et al (21) compared the subjects that new diagnosed asthma in adulthood with control. Risk of asthma was related to workplace ETS exposure (OR=2.16) and home exposure (OR=4.77) in the past year.…”