Cannabis smoke at home associated with second-hand exposure in children

Cannabis smoke at home associated with second-hand exposure in children

The study finds significant cannabis exposure among children when smoking in the home and highlights the need for preventive measures and stricter guidelines to protect their health.

In a recently published study inJama Network OpenA research team from the United States examined the relationship between cannabis smoking at home and childhood exposure using urinary biomarkers.

They assessed how home use of cannabis affects levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites in children. They aimed to quantify exposure and emphasize the need for preventive measures to ensure children's health.

background

Cannabis consumption primarily through smoking emits harmful chemicals, including carcinogens and fine particles, which can negatively impact respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Secondhand cannabis smoke (SHCs) is a combination of direct emissions and exhaled smoke, and evidence suggests that this may contribute to adverse health effects.

Children, who are more susceptible to environmental pollutants, are at higher risk when exposed to SHCs. Existing studies have linked caregiver cannabis use to respiratory illnesses in children. However, most have focused on indirect measures or single biomarkers, limiting understanding of the extent and impact of such exposure.

Despite the growing use of cannabis, particularly in households with children, research on SHCs and its effects remains limited.

This lack of data reflects the need to use objective measures such as urinary biomarkers to examine how SHCs exposure affects children and to inform policies and interventions to reduce potential health risks for this vulnerable population.

About the study

In the present cross-sectional study, researchers used data collected by Project Fresh Air, focusing on households with children under 14 years of age and resident tobacco smokers in San Diego County. They combined air particle monitoring data with parental reports of cannabis use in the home to assess children's exposure to SHCs.

Urine samples from 275 children were analyzed for THC and its metabolites, including 11-hydroxy-THC and 11-NOR-9-CARBOXY-THC, which serve as biomarkers of cannabis exposure.

These biomarkers were measured using advanced mass spectrometry methods, and the researchers summed all molar equivalents to determine total THC equivalents (TTE).

To estimate home cannabis smoking, the study used a residualization approach that combined self-reported cannabis use and airborne particulate matter data and adjusted for other sources such as tobacco smoke and household activities that generate particles. The researchers also identified daily non-specific smoking events via air particle counts that exceed a set threshold and quantified their association with reported cannabis use.

In addition, they collected data on air nicotine dosimeters and demographic factors, including ventilation practices, income and parental education.

The study used logistic regression to assess the likelihood of a detectable TTE based on home cannabis use. In contrast, linear regression was performed to quantify exposure in children using detectable biomarkers.

Key insights

The results showed that children living in homes where cannabis was smoked indoors had significantly higher exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke, as evidenced by detectable THC biomarkers in their urine.

Among the 275 children included in the study, 27.3% had detectable levels of cannabinoids in their urine. Additionally, households that reported cannabis use in homes were five times more likely to have children with detectable TTE levels compared to those with no reported cannabis use.

Additionally, each additional daily cannabis smoking event was found to increase the likelihood of a detectable urine TTE in children by a factor of 2.5.

In children who showed detectable concentrations of cannabinoids in urine, higher frequencies of reported cannabi smoking events were associated with higher levels of TTE, although this increase was not statistically significant.

Researchers observed that children under six showed similar exposure patterns, indicating the increased risk for younger age groups who spend more time indoors.

Although non-specific smoking events captured by air particle monitors contributed to exposure data, cannabis smoking in homes was reported to provide a more direct association with urine biomarker detection.

Additionally, sensitivity analyzes confirmed the robustness of these results across multiple measures of smoking events.

This study highlighted the impact of indoor cannabis use on children's SHCS exposure, with detectable biomarkers serving as critical indicators of exposure levels. These results also highlighted the importance of implementing preventive measures to minimize indoor cannabis exposure, particularly in households with young children.

Conclusions

Overall, results showed a significant association between cannabis smoking in homes and increased second-hand exposure in children, as indicated by THC biomarkers in urine.

The study suggested that reducing indoor cannabis use could significantly reduce children's exposure to harmful chemicals in cannabis smoke. The team also believes that further research is needed to examine the long-term health effects of such exposure and to develop policies that protect children from environmental risks associated with cannabis use.

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