Humans have always known about the effects of secondhand smoke in their lives. For years, countries and states have attempted to ban smoking all together, but new studies keep surfacing like one this week that adds to the fact that smoking truly does impact the lives of people surrounding those inhaling. Now research has shown that smoking around kids in particular can lead to future nicotine addiction.
Secondhand smoke claims nearly 50,000 lives each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that secondhand smoke has a direct and measurable impact on the brain similar to that of actually smoking. The learnings in print this week reiterate previous research that suggests that exposure to secondhand smoke increases a child’s chances of becoming a smoker later in life.
Dr. Nora D. Volkow, NIDA director said:
“These results show that even limited secondhand smoke exposure delivers enough nicotine to the brain to alter its function. Chronic or severe exposure could result in even higher brain nicotine levels, which may explain why secondhand smoke exposure increases vulnerability to nicotine addiction.”
How did researchers come to this “new” conclusion? Scientists used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to show that just one hour of exposure to secondhand smoke in an enclosed area allows nicotine to reach the brain and bind to receptors normally targeted by direct exposure to tobacco smoke.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are a real thing. The activation of receptors by nicotine modifies the state of neurons through two main mechanisms. On one hand, the movement of cations causes a depolarization of the plasma membrane (which results in an excitatory postsynaptic potential in neurons), but also by the activation of voltage-gated ion channels. On the other hand, the entry of calcium acts, either directly or indirectly, on different intracellular cascades leading, for example, to the regulation of the activity of some genes or the release of neurotransmitters.
Dr. Arthur Brody, of the department of psychiatry & biobehavioral sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles adds:
“This study gives concrete evidence to support policies that ban smoking in public places, particularly enclosed spaces and around children.”
Friends from across the Pacific may have a good idea. According to Medical News Today reporting on new legislation that passed this month:
“New legislation comes into force in China banning smoking in restaurants, theaters, public transport waiting rooms, hotels, and several other enclosed public places. Chinese health authorities want to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking. A significant proportion of the Chinese population is not aware of the health risks of smoking. Tobacco use is deeply ingrained in China.”
So what is the current law in the United States? The United States Congress has not attempted to enact any nationwide federal smoking ban. Therefore, smoking bans in the United States are entirely a product of state and local criminal and occupational safety and health laws.
At any rate, protect yourself and those around you as much as possible. If you smoke, please be responsible.
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Written by Sy Kraft