Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı AD, İzmir, Türkiye

Passive smoking (environmental tobacco smoke) is an important public health problem causing several adverse effects on the health outcomes of children. Adverse effects of passive smoking occur from conception through adolescence. Exposure to passive smoking in children is associated especially with increased upper and lower respiratory infection and increased asthmatic symptoms. Globally, including Turkey the percentage of children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke is considerably high. Exposure intensity of passive smoking shows a strong correlation with indoor parental and especially maternal smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked, the number and volume capacity of the rooms where cigarettes are smoked, and individual metabolic diversities.