SEPTEMBER 30 • 2021 | 31

S

ome 70% of children
with parents who
smoke were found to
have nicotine residue in hair
samples, according to research
done by the Sackler Medical
School of Tel Aviv University.
The study was peer-reviewed
and published in Nicotine &
Tobacco Research.
The researchers wanted
to examine whether raising
awareness of children’s exposure
might change parents’ behavior.
About 140 Israeli families, with
children up to age 8 where at
least one parent smokes, partici-
pated in the study.

The smoking average per
household was 15 cigarettes per
day. A third of the participants
reported that they smoke inside
the home, and a third said that
they only smoke on the porch.
Researchers tested children’s
exposure via a biomarker: nic-
otine in hair, testing whether
nicotine became an integral
part of the strand of hair having
originated in the body and not
just external precipitate.
The nicotine in the inner
shaft of the hair represents that
which has been absorbed by the
child and reached the blood-
stream. The external residue

was washed off before analysis.
Nicotine residue was found in
70% of the hair tested.
“To our great dismay, accord-
ing to Health Ministry data,
approximately 60% of small
children in Israel are exposed
to secondhand smoke and its
harmful effects,
” said Prof. Leah
Rosen, who ran the study.
“Based on the study’s find-
ings, we believe that conducting
nicotine testing for every young
child in Israel — in the hair,
urine, or using other testing
methods — may change par-
ents’ perceptions about expos-
ing their children to tobacco
smoke,
” she said. “Changing
this perception can also result
in changing behavior, exposure
levels and even social norms
regarding passive exposure to

smoking — both exposure of
children as well as adults.
”
Prof. Rosen explained to the
Post that exposure to tobacco
smoke is dangerous, especially
for children who suffer both
short-term harm (such as the
increased risk of sudden infant
death syndrome, bronchitis, ear
infections) and long-term harm
(delayed lung development,
long-term damage to the car-
diovascular system).
She also said that most
Israelis don’t fully understand
the damage from active smok-
ing or from secondhand smoke.
And they are often unaware that
the exposure is occurring.
“It is critical that they protect
their children from tobacco
smoke.
” Rosen told the Post.
“There should never be smok-
ing inside the house, including
at windows or on porches.
Besides the immediate expo-
sure, the toxins from the tobac-
co smoke are absorbed into the
walls, carpets and upholstery
and are slowly released over
time. This is known as third-
hand smoke.
“Non-smokers must under-
stand that there is genuine risk
in exposure to tobacco smoke,
and they must insist upon their
right and the right of their chil-
dren and family members to
breathe air that is smoke-free
everywhere.

HEALTH

Secondhand smoke absorbed into body.
Smoking and Kids

SIMCHA PASKO JERUSALEM POST

Contact Raymond Jenkins
33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI

If you are not wearing it… sell it!...
or BORROW on it!

You can’t enjoy jewelry if it’s sitting in your safe
deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash.
We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.

A Service to
Private Owners,
Banks & Estates

33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI

248-644-8565

Coins & Jewelry

If you are not wearing it… sell it!...

We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.

Let Old Friends be your

Michigan-Florida Connection

Keyes Real Estate

Estate Property Sales from
Listing to Clean-Out!

Buy • Sell • InveSt

Throughout South Florida, Including Boca, Boynton,
Delray, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties

Nina Spinner-Sands

NinaSpinner-Sands@keyes.com

(954) 290-8293

Rita Morse

RitaMorse@keyes.com
(305) 609-7559