Update on thirdhand smoke: A comprehensive systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to perform a comprehensive review of the literature about thirdhand smoke (THS). METHODS: Systematic review of all aspects of THS. Standard methodological procedures were used to search the following databases through April 2018: MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science (WOS) in Indo-European languages. To identify published grey literature, the first 200 hits from Google Scholar™ were evaluated. Clinical trial databases, conference proceedings, and reference lists from the identified articles were also searched. Two unblinded review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion in the review. These same reviewers also extracted study data in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018083619). RESULTS: Sixty-eight articles were included in this systematic review. Of these, 28 analyzed the concentration of nicotine as a component of THS (the most commonly-used method to measure THS in those studies was chromatography, followed by the mass spectrometry), 21 evaluated the exposure and impact of THS on health (11 studies analyzed the effect of THS in cells [human and animal], 4 in animals, 1 in adults, and 5 in children), 16 investigated the beliefs, behaviours, and policies related to THS, and 3 evaluated other aspects such as THS in e-cigarettes or hookahs. In these 68 studies, THS was determined by measuring the following components: nicotine (30 studies), nitrosamines (17 studies) and cotinine (15 studies). The findings from most of these studies suggest a potential health impact of THS exposure (i.e.: cytotoxicity, metabolic alterations in metabolism, in glycemia; or cell structure; alterations in liver, lung, skin and behaviour in mice), and low awareness about the risks of THS among the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous specific biomarkers of THS were evaluated, with the most common being nicotine, nitrosamines, and cotinine. The most common method of preparing THS dust samples were cotton wipes, while chromatography, used alone or coupled with mass spectrometry, was the most common analytical technique. We have tried to establish common bases after reviewing all the current literature of the THS although, there is great heterogeneity between the studies and we have not always succeeded. The studies in this review demonstrate the harmful effects of THS on health in cells, in animal models, and in people including children. However, in people, the long-term effects remain unknown and more research is needed. These studies show that knowledge about THS and its potential harmful effects are poorly understood among the general population. For this reason, THS should receive greater emphasis in education and awareness policies.

Smoke-free homes and attitudes towards banning smoking in vehicles carrying children in Spain (2016).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the voluntary adoption of smoke-free homes and social attitudes in Spain towards banning smoking in vehicles in which children are present. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the adult Spanish population age range, 18-75 years (n=1036). The field work was conducted via a computer-assisted telephone survey in March and April 2016. Survey respondents answered questions about smoking rules at home and attitudes towards a smoking ban in cars with or without children. Home smoking rules were defined as complete (smoking not allowed anywhere in the house), partial (smoking allowed in some areas inside the house) or absent (smoking allowed everywhere). RESULTS: Most (83.0%) of the surveyed population had some type of smoking restriction in place at home (45.6% complete and 37.5% partial). There were significant differences between groups according to age group (the highest prevalence was 86.1% from 66 to 75 years and the lowest prevalence was 77.8% from 46 to 65 years) and smoking status (the highest prevalence was 89.4% in people who had never been smokers and the lowest prevalence was 75.0% in current smokers) with regards to the prevalence of smoke-free homes (p<0.05), with partial bans more prevalent in smoking households (49.0%). Most (61.6%) of the population favored banning smoking in cars, and 90.1% supported a ban in cars carrying minors. Attitudes towards smoking regulation in cars (with or without children) varied significantly by age group (the highest prevalence was 81.9% from 66 to 75 years and the lowest prevalence was 54.5% from 18 to 45 years) and smoking status (the highest prevalence was 71.4% in people who had never been smokers and the lowest prevalence was 46.0% in current smokers). However, no significant differences were found with regard to attitudes towards smoking regulation in cars carrying children, regardless of sex, age, social class, or smoking status. CONCLUSION: Approximately half of the adult population in Spain have implemented a complete smoke-free rule at home. More than 9 out of 10 adults favor regulating smoking in cars in the presence of minors. These findings support the expansion of smoke-free regulations to include private vehicles, particularly when minors are in the car.

[Sudden infant death syndrome: Do the parents follow the recommendations?] / Síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante: ¿siguen las familias las recomendaciones?

INTRODUCTION: Prone sleeping position is the main known modifiable risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). There are other SIDS recommendations although with less impact. The objective of this study is to describe the prevalence of prone position during sleep as well as other risk factors associated with SIDS in a sample of Spanish babies and infants. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out on 640 families with children from 0 months to 11 months. In addition to the sleep position, the adherence to four other recommendations regarding SIDS was analysed: place where infant sleeps, breastfeeding, use of non-nutritive suction, and maternal smoking. RESULTS: A total of 41.3% of infants under 6 months and 59.7% of infants aged 6 to 11 months slept in a non-recommended position. Only 6.4% of families analysed followed all five recommendations. DISCUSSION: There is a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors for SIDS among the studied population. Personalized education should be promoted, along with other campaigns to raise awareness and prevent SIDS.

[Prevalence of smoke-free homes and passive exposure to tobacco in pediatric population (children from 3 to 36 months)]. / Prevalencia de hogares libres de humo y exposición pasiva al tabaco en población pediátrica (niños de 3 a 36 meses).

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric population is the most vulnerable to secondhand smoke (SHS), exposure being households the main source of exposure in children. The objective of this study is to describe smoke-free households and the prevalence of SHS in the pediatric population (from 3 to 36 months) in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 1,368 parents, mothers or guardians with children from 3 to 36 months carried out in Spain from March to November of 2017 through an online questionnaire as part of the EPISON study. Information was collected on the voluntary adoption of tobacco use regulations at home and SHS exposure at home and other environments. We calculated prevalences and Odds Ratio adjusted (ORa) for sex, age, level of education, and smoking status. RESULTS: 87.6% of respondents claimed to have a smoke-free home. 12.4% of respondents had partial regulation or did not have regulation at home, increasing up to 26.0% when the parent was a smoker or to 21.8% when the parent had primary or lower education. 5.4% of parents reported SHS exposure in their children at their homes, rising to 14.5% when it occurs in other environments, increasing with statistically significant differences between smoking parents and parents with lower educational level. CONCLUSIONS: The smoke-free homes are the majority; but SHS exposure to tobacco at home persists in children under 3 years of age, especially in families with a lower educational level. Therefore, awareness-raising campaigns on the effects of passive exposure on minors among families with.

OBJETIVO: La población pediátrica es la más vulnerable a la exposición pasiva al humo ambiental del tabaco (HAT), siendo los hogares la fuente principal de exposición en niños. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir los hogares libres de humo y la prevalencia de exposición pasiva al HAT en la población pediátrica (de 3 a 36 meses) en España. METODOS: Estudio transversal con 1.368 padres, madres o tutores con hijos de 3 a 36 meses realizado en España de marzo a noviembre de 2017 mediante cuestionario online como parte del estudio EPISON. Se recogió información sobre la adopción voluntaria de normas de consumo de tabaco en el hogar y exposición al HAT en casa y otros ambientes. Se calcularon las prevalencias y las Odds Ratio ajustadas (ORa) por sexo, edad, nivel educativo y consumo de tabaco. RESULTADOS: El 87,6% de los encuestados afirmó tener un hogar libre de humo. El 12,4% de los encuestados tenían regulación parcial o no tenían ninguna regulación en el hogar, incrementándose hasta el 26% cuando el progenitor era fumador o al 21,8% cuando tenía estudios primarios o inferiores. El 5,4% de los padres refirió exposición pasiva al tabaco en niños en sus hogares, elevándose hasta el 14,5% cuando la exposición se produjo en otros ambientes, incrementándose de forma estadísticamente significativa la diferencia entre los padres fumadores y con menor nivel educativo. CONCLUSIONES: Los hogares libres de humo son mayoritarios, pero persiste la exposición pasiva al tabaco en el hogar con niños menores de 3 años, especialmente en familias con menor nivel educativo. Por ello, se deberían incentivar campañas de sensibilización sobre los efectos de la exposición pasiva en menores, especialmente en familias con menos recursos.