Secondhand Smoke Exposure May Lead to Psychological Distress
A new study has found that being exposed to secondhand smoke could lead to psychological distress and hospitalization. The researchers felt this was an important topic to examine, especially since about 60 percent of non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke.
University College London professor Mark Hamer, Ph.D., and colleagues examined 5,5660 adults who did not smoke and 2,595 smokers who didn't have a history of psychiatric illness. Participants were asked about psychological distress and previous stays in psychiatric hospitals, and were monitored over a six-year period. The researchers measured the level of exposure to secondhand smoke by examining the levels of cotinine, which is a biochemical marker of nicotine exposure, in the participants' saliva.
Of the participants, 14.5 percent said they experienced psychological distress. Those who didn't smoke but were exposed to a lot of secondhand smoke were more likely to report distress compared to those who didn't have detectable cotinine levels.
During the six-year period, 41 people in the study were admitted to psychiatric hospitals. Participants who were exposed to a great deal of secondhand smoke—both smokers and non-smokers—were more likely to suffer severe psychiatric conditions such as depression and schizophrenia.
