Introduction:
This text presents the findings of a study examining the trend of secondhand tobacco (SHT) exposure in school-aged children in Japan from 2011 to 2021, with a focus on the impact of heated tobacco products (HTPs) on SHT exposure. The study used data from an annual survey of fourth-grade students in Kumagaya City, Japan, and measured urinary cotinine levels to objectively assess SHT exposure.
Key Points:
* The prevalence of SHT exposure decreased over the 11-year period from 18.6% in 2011 to 5.3% in 2021.
* SHT exposure was significantly higher in households with tobacco users than without tobacco users (p< .001).
* Prevalence of SHT exposure among children was 1.4% in households not using tobacco, 22.9% in households using only CC, 3.1% in households using only HTP, and 27.6% in households using CC and HTP.
* The number of HTP users has increased rapidly in recent years, with younger people in the child-rearing generation being more likely to use HTPs.
* HTPs are the second-most used tobacco product after traditional combustible cigarettes (CCs) in Japan.
* Approximately one in 10 people in Japan were already exposed to secondhand aerosols from HTPs, as of 2020.
* Both CC smoke and HTP-generated aerosols should be treated as a public health problem of SHT exposure.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of advocating that HTPs do not reduce the likelihood of SHT exposure to bystanders. The trend of decreasing SHT exposure in school-aged children in Japan from 2011 to 2021 is a positive development, but the prevalence of SHT exposure remains higher in households with tobacco users, regardless of the type of tobacco product. Therefore, it is crucial to continue monitoring SHT exposure and educating the public about the potential risks associated with HTPs.
Citation
Yudai Tamada, Kenji Takeuchi, Takahiro Tabuchi, Secondhand Tobacco Exposure Assessed Using Urinary Cotinine Among 10-Year-Old Children in Japan: An 11-Year Repeated Cross-sectional Study, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 27, Issue 3, March 2025, Pages 534–541, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae220
