Indoor maternal smoking doubles adolescents' exhaled carbon monoxide

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of indoor smoking. Exhaled carbon monoxide WO) concentrations were measured on a CO monitor by a vital capacity manoeuvre in three groups of adolescents: non-smokers with non-smoking families, non-smokers with smoking mothers. and smokers. Each group included eight families. Smokers had higher exhaled CO (mean +/- SD. 35.67 +/- 14.62 ppm) than non-smokers with smoking mothers (6 +/- 2.5 ppm) and nonsmokers (2.37 +/- 0.56 ppm), late in the evening (21.00 h). The levels of exhaled CO in non-smoking adolescents doubled if their mothers smoked. Conclusion: Exhaled CO can be used as an indicator of indoor smoking. Maternal smoking plays a major role in the health of adolescents.