Top

Published in:

01-02-2018 | Short Communication

Secondhand smoke is associated with heavy metal concentrations in children

Authors: Li Li, Li Guo, Xingjie Chen, Mingli Xiang, Fang Yang, Jing-chao Ren, Guang-hui Zhang

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 2/2018

Abstract

Secondhand smoke (SHS) has adverse effects on health, particularly for children. Our purpose was to analyze the correlation between SHS exposure and heavy metal concentrations in children. The investigation was conducted in Xinxiang County, Henan Province, China, from August 2015 to December 2015. In total, 821 students (433 boys and 388 girls) were recruited, and the contents of heavy metals in their hair—including chromium, manganese, nickel, arsenic, lead, and cadmium—were detected by ICP-MS. The children’s parents were informed, and a questionnaire was conducted, which included questions about smoking habits and demographic characteristics. Our results indicate that all parent smokers are fathers, 48.9% of fathers who are smokers, but 25.2% of fathers smoke in front of their children. The levels of chromium (median girls vs boys, μg/g) (2.36 vs 2.06, p < 0.001), nickel (1.28 vs 0.97, p < 0.001), arsenic (0.55 vs 0.49, p < 0.001), and lead (2.73 vs 2.16, p < 0.001) in girls were significantly higher than in boys. The levels of cadmium (median, SHS group vs control: 0.43 vs 0.29 (μg/g), p < 0.001) and lead (median, SHS group vs control: 2.71 vs 2.27 (μg/g), p = 0.007) in the SHS group were significantly higher than in the control. Multi-linear regression analysis indicated that SHS exposure in children is very likely to be correlated with increasing levels of lead (β (95% CI): 0.53 (0.99–5.14), p = 0.023) and cadmium (β (95% CI): 0.43 (0.14–0.73), p = 0.003) in their hair. In conclusion, children exposed to SHS have increased lead and cadmium accumulations in the body.

Conclusion: In our study, 821 students (433 boys and 388 girls) were recruited, and the contents of heavy metals in their hair—including chromium, manganese, nickel, arsenic, lead, and cadmium—were detected by ICP-MS. And the secondhand smoking (SHS) exposure was inquired by face-to-face investigation of their parents. We illustrated that children exposed to SHS have increased lead and cadmium accumulations in the body.

What is Known:

• Secondhand smoke (SHS) has adverse effects on health, particularly for children.

• There might be correlation between SHS exposure and heavy metal concentrations in children.

What is New:

• The levels of chromium, nickel, arsenic, and lead in girls were significantly higher than in boys.

• SHS exposure in children was correlated with increasing levels of lead and cadmium in their hair because of exposure to SHS.

Aurrekoetxea JJ, Murcia M, Rebagliato M, Guxens M, Fernández-Somoano A, López MJ, Lertxundi A, Castilla AM, Espada M, Tardón A, Ballester F, Santa-Marina L (2016) Second-hand smoke exposure in 4-year-old children in Spain: sources, associated factors and urinary cotinine. Environ Res 145:116–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2015.11.028 CrossRefPubMed

Brazdova ZD, Pomerleau J, Fiala J, Vorlova L, Mullerova D (2014) Heavy metals in hair samples: a pilot study of anaemic children in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Cent Eur J Public Health 22(4):273–276. 10.21101/cejph.a4003 CrossRefPubMed

Chang JS, Selvin S, Metayer C, Crouse V, Golembesky A, Buffler PA (2006) Parental smoking and the risk of childhood leukemia. Am J Epidemiol 163(12):1091–1100. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwj143 CrossRefPubMed

Chen R, Clifford A, Lang L, Anstey KJ (2013) Is exposure to secondhand smoke associated with cognitive parameters of children and adolescents?—a systematic literature review. Ann Epidemiol 23(10):652–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.07.001 CrossRefPubMed

Evrenoglou L, Partsinevelou SA, Stamatis P, Lazaris A, Patsouris E, Kotampasi C, Nicolopoulou-Stamati P (2013) Children exposure to trace levels of heavy metals at the north zone of Kifissos River. Sci Total Environ 443:650–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.11.041 CrossRefPubMed

Gorini G, Carreras G, Cortini B, Verdi S, Petronio MG, Sestini P, Chellini E (2016) Smoke-free homes and youth smoking behaviour in Italy: findings from the SIDRIAT longitudinal study. Nicotine Tob Res 18(11):2075–2082. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntw149 CrossRefPubMed

Hecht SS (1999) Tobacco smoke carcinogens and lung cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 91(14):1194–1210. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/91.14.1194 CrossRefPubMed

Huang CC, Tchetgen ET, Becerra MC, Cohen T, Galea J, Calderon R, Yataco R, Contreras C, Zhang ZB, Lecca L, Murray M (2014) Cigarette smoking among tuberculosis patients increases risk of transmission to child contacts. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 18(11):1285–1291. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.14.0309 CrossRefPubMed

Kahraman FU, Torun E, Osmanoglu NK, Oruclu S, Ozer OF (2016) Oxidative status and serum paraoxonase-1 levels in passive smoker children and adolescents. Pediatr Int 59(1):68–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/ped.13073 CrossRefPubMed

10.

Laden F, Chiu YH, Garshick E, Hammond SK, Hart JE (2013) A cross-sectional study of secondhand smoke exposure and respiratory symptoms in non-current smokers in the U.S. trucking industry: SHS exposure and respiratory symptoms. BMC Public Health 13(1):93. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-93 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

11.

Li Y, Zhang X, Yang L, Li H (2012) Levels of Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Se in hair of residents living in villages around Fenghuang polymetallic mine, southwestern China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89(1):125–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0650-7 CrossRefPubMed

12.

Liang G, Pan L, Liu X (2017) Assessment of typical heavy metals in human hair of different age groups and foodstuffs in Beijing, China [J]. Int J Environ Res Public Health 14(8):914. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080914 CrossRefPubMedCentral

13.

Liu H, Wang H, Ma Y, Wang H, Shi Y (2016) Role of transpiration and metabolism in translocation and accumulation of cadmium in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Chemosphere 144:1960–1965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.10.093 CrossRefPubMed

14.

Mason K (2016) Burden of disease from second-hand smoke exposure in New Zealand. N Z Med J 129(1432):16–25PubMed

15.

Milne E, Greenop KR, Scott RJ, Bailey HD, Attia J, Dalla-Pozza L, de Klerk NH, Armstrong BK (2012) Parental prenatal smoking and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Am J Epidemiol 175(1):43–53. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwr275 CrossRefPubMed

16.

Montreuil A, Tremblay M, Cantinotti M, Leclerc BS, Lasnier B, Cohen J, McGrath J, O'Loughlin J (2015) Frequency and risk factors related to smoking in cars with children present. Can J Public Health 106(6):e369–e374. 10.17269/cjph.106.5070 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

17.

Moritsugu KP (2007) The 2006 Report of the Surgeon General: the health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke. Am J Prev Med 32(6):542–543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.02.026 CrossRefPubMed

18.

O’Connor RJ, Schneller LM, Caruso RV et al (2015) Toxic metal and nicotine content of cigarettes sold in China, 2009 and 2012. Tob Control 24(Suppl 4):v55–v59CrossRef

19.

Sanna E, Liguori A, Palmas L, Soro MR, Floris G (2003) Blood and hair lead levels in boys and girls living in two Sardinian towns at different risks of lead pollution [J]. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 55(3):293–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-6513(02)00072-6 CrossRefPubMed

20.

Secretan B, Straif K, Baan R, Grosse Y, el Ghissassi F, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Guha N, Freeman C, Galichet L, Cogliano V, WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph Working Group (2009) A review of human carcinogens—Part E: tobacco, areca nut, alcohol, coal smoke, and salted fish. Lancet Oncol 10(11):1033–1034. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(09)70326-2 CrossRefPubMed

21.

Serdar MA, Akin BS, Razi C, Akin O, Tokgoz S, Kenar L, Aykut O (2012) The correlation between smoking status of family members and concentrations of toxic trace elements in the hair of children. Biol Trace Elem Res 148(1):11–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9337-5 CrossRefPubMed

22.

Thielen A, Klus H, Muller L (2008) Tobacco smoke: unraveling a controversial subject. Exp Toxicol Pathol 60(2-3):141–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etp.2008.01.014 CrossRefPubMed

23.

Thurn D, Doyon A, Sozeri B et al (2015) Aortic pulse wave velocity in healthy children and adolescents: reference values for the vicorder device and modifying factors. Am J Hypertens 28:1480–1488CrossRef

24.

US OOSA (2006) The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke: a report of the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), Atlanta

25.

Yaprak E, Yolcubal I, Sinanoglu A, Dogrul-Demiray A, Guzeldemir-Akcakanat E, Marakoglu I (2016) High levels of heavy metal accumulation in dental calculus of smokers: a pilot inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry study. J Periodontal Res 52(1):83–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/jre.12371 CrossRefPubMed

26.

Yassa HA (2014) Autism: a form of lead and mercury toxicity. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 38(3):1016–1024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2014.10.005 CrossRefPubMed

27.

Zeng WA, Li F, Zhou H et al (2016) Effect of calcium carbonate on cadmium and nutrients uptake in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) planted on contaminated soil. J Environ Biol 37:163–168PubMed

Title: Secondhand smoke is associated with heavy metal concentrations in children
Authors: Li Li
Li Guo
Xingjie Chen
Mingli Xiang
Fang Yang
Jing-chao Ren
Guang-hui Zhang
Publication date: 01-02-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-3053-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Secondhand smoke is associated with heavy metal concentrations in children

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2018

Bacteria from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from children with suspected chronic lower respiratory tract infection: results from a multi-center, cross-sectional study in Spain

Towards better healthcare for migrant and refugee children in Europe

European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2017: training the next generation of health care professionals in antibiotic stewardship

Early severe anemia as the first sign of cystic fibrosis

Influence of blood pressure level and age on within-visit blood pressure variability in children and adolescents

Implications of a paediatrician-psychologist tandem for sickle cell disease care and impact on cognitive functioning