(NaturalNews) A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has revealed that children who are exposed to cigarette smoke prenatally and during the first year of their life are likely to develop behavioral problems by the time they are of school age. Particularly problematic during the gestational years, tobacco smoke can more than double the risk of childhood behavior problems.
Scientists from Germany analyzed children whose mothers smoked while they were in the womb as well as
children who were exposed to second hand smoke following their
birth up until their first birthday. The children who were only exposed prenatally were 90 percent more likely to develop
behavioral problems compared to children whose mothers did not smoke at all. Children who were exposed only after birth had a 30-percent higher
risk. Children exposed both prenatally and after birth had a double risk of developing abnormal
behavior problems.
In order to isolate the true cause of behavioral problems,
scientists crafted a detailed questionnaire that aimed to eliminate possible biases that would have altered results, such as external social and
environmental factors. When all was said and done, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, and social interaction problems were among the primary setbacks observed in the tobacco-exposed children.
Because the negative effects of
tobacco smoke were found to be the greatest during fetal development, scientists see an undeniable link between
tobacco and developmental problems. The formative years of a child's growth and maturation are severely upset by the presence of tobacco, something scientists hope every mother and prospective mother will consider.
Comments by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
This is an interesting study, but it may not prove what you think it proves. It
appears to prove that tobacco smoke leads to behavior problems in children, right?
But what it really might be demonstrating is that children raised by
parents who smoke in the house (which is, by any assessment, an incredibly stupid thing to do) have behavior problems.
In other words, this study may have more to do with
really bad parenting than tobacco smoke. Even if parents smoke, the ones who really care about their own children will
smoke outside the house, thereby making sure their indoor air
environment is smoke free.
I've met lots of parents who smoke and yet they take steps to shield their children from secondhand smoke because they obviously don't want their children to pick up the habit or suffer the
health consequences.
That's actually a very compassionate approach.
Smokers can be responsible people, too. They may not be able to beat their own addiction, but at least they can try to prevent it from harming those around them -- especially their children.
Sources for this story include:http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en/press-and-media/press-releases/press-...
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In 2010, Adams created NaturalNews.TV, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He's also a noted pioneer in the email marketing software industry, having been the first to launch an HTML email newsletter technology that has grown to become a standard in the industry. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. He's also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body.
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Saturday, January 09, 2010
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