CanTobacco Smoke Trigger Mental Problems in Kids?

Are your kids somewhat hyper or having bouts of sadness today? Someone’s cigarette smoke might be triggering it. Researchers from National Institutes of Health have uncovered a link between second-hand smoke and mental problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression in children and adolescents.
Second hand smoke, which is considered more harmful than first-hand smoke, is linked to cause respiratory problems, breathing abnormalities in infants, middle-ear infections and lung infection in numerous studies. But this is the first time that it is linked to mental problems among pediatric individuals. The study examined 2,901 multiracial individuals who are aged 8 to 15.
The culprit is thought to be Cotinine, a metabolite of the main addicting substance in tobacco product which is nicotine. Researchers found out that those youths with higher blood levels of cotinine have almost five symptoms of depressive disorder, more than three symptoms of ADHD and more than two symptoms of generalized anxiety on the average.
After looking the participants’ health history, it was found that there is strong evidence that Cotinine levels is related to onset of ADHD, depression and conduct and anxiety symptoms. Still, effects on boys are greater compared to girls. Among races, whites appear most vulnerable in comparison among blacks and Mexican Americans.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 15 billion cigarettes are smoked worldwide every day. In the United States, 451 billion cigarettes are consumed per year.

The study is published on the April 6, 2011 edition of the newspaper San Francisco Chronicle.

Here is the link to the original article:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/06/MNU61IQH2H.DTL