Physical, Behavioral, and Cognitive Effects of Prenatal Tobacco and Postnatal Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to examine the rapidly expanding literature regarding the effects of prenatal tobacco and postnatal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure on child health and development. Mechanisms of SHS exposure are reviewed, including critical periods during which exposure to tobacco products appears to be particularly harmful to the developing fetus and child. The biological, biochemical, and neurologic effects of the small fraction of identified components of SHS are described. Research describing these adverse effects of both in utero and childhood exposure is reviewed, including findings from both animal models and humans. The following adverse physical outcomes are discussed: sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, decreased head circumference, respiratory infections, otitis media, asthma, childhood cancer, hearing loss, dental caries, and the metabolic syndrome. In addition, the association between the following adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes and such exposures is described: conduct disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, poor academic achievement, and cognitive impairment. The evidence supporting the adverse effects of SHS exposure is extensive yet rapidly expanding due to improving technology and increased awareness of this profound public health problem. The growing use of alternative tobacco products, such as hookahs (a.k.a. waterpipes), and the scant literature on possible effects from prenatal and secondhand smoke exposure from these products are also discussed. A review of the current knowledge of this important subject has implications for future research as well as public policy and clinical practice.

Consequences and Possible Predictors of Health-damaging Behaviors and Mental Health Problems in Pregnancy – A Review

“…Intrauterine growth disorders [21], congenital anomalies [22], low birth weight, and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome [23] have also been linked to prenatal exposure to nicotine. Over the longer term maternal nicotine consumption during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of health problems in later life, for example, cardiac and respiratory disease or overweight [16] but also with behavioral disorders (particularly ADHD and aggressive behavior) [24,25] and cognitive deficits [26] during the childʼs further development.…”

Neurobehavioral effects of choninergic drugs in prenatal period

“…С курением во время беременности связаны проблемы в обуче-нии, поведении, общих когнитивных функциях, а так-же изменения, касающиеся функционирования слу-ховой зоны мозга у детей [41, 82,123], вследствие воздействия никотина повышается риск развития множественных пороков развития у плода [104]. Пассивное курение, как низкодозовое воздействие никотина, также приводит к нейроповеденческим, когнитивным нарушениям и увеличению риска ре-спираторного дистресс-синдрома у новорожденных [33, 69,82,212].…”

“…Воздействие токсикантов из ряда хлорорганиче-ских соединений (ХОС), присутствующих в окружаю-щей среде, особенно так называемых эндокринных дизрапторов, связано со снижением качества спер-мы и увеличением аномалий мужских половых ор-ганов за последние десятилетия [25,164,186,212]. При исследовании воздействия хлорпирифоса на личинок осетра и синтез половых гормонов у взрос-лых особей установлено его ингибирующее влияние на синтез половых гормонов в тестикулах и яичках [49,150,164,196].…”

The Difference a Decade Makes: Smoking Cessation Counseling and Screening at Pediatric Visits

“…[4][5][6] Both prenatal and postnatal SHS exposure in children is associated with sudden infant death syndrome, otitis media (OM), asthma, cardiovascular effects, behavioral problems, respiratory problems, and increased cancer risk. 1,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Furthermore, childhood SHS exposure is associated with increased risk of tobacco initiation [17][18][19] and symptoms of addiction in children who have never smoked. 20 There has been a sharp decline in high school students who smoke cigarettes; among 12th-grade students, 30-day prevalence rates have declined from 37% in 1997 to 14% in 2014.…”