Children exposed to their parents’ cigarette smoke may unknowingly pass on lung damage to their own children and grandchildren, increasing the risk of chronic respiratory diseases, a new study has revealed.
Published in the medical journal Thorax, the research highlights the intergenerational harm caused by passive smoking, urging fathers in particular to avoid smoking around their children.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne, found that exposure to cigarette smoke in childhood is not limited to immediate health risks but can impair lung function in future generations.
Children and grandchildren of smokers were shown to have a higher likelihood of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that already causes around 3 million deaths globally each year.
How research was conducted
For the findings, scientists used spirometry tests to measure lung function in more than 8,000 participants enrolled in the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, one of the world’s largest respiratory health studies.
The results demonstrated a clear link between second-hand smoke exposure during childhood and reduced lung capacity in later generations.
Lead researchers stressed that reducing children’s exposure to tobacco smoke is vital not only for their immediate well-being but also for protecting the health of future generations.
“Fathers must be especially careful not to smoke around children, as the long-term risks extend far beyond what was previously understood,” the authors wrote.
