Secondhand Smoke Lowers Teen's Test Scores

In a recent press release, researchers have found that teens that are exposed to secondhand smoke at home score 30 percent lower on standardized achievement tests. The study is based on the observation of over 6,000 women and their children. The study compared achievement tests for those 16 and 18 years old teens with those of their peers, who had not been exposed to secondhand smoke at home.

The study adds a reason for people to consider dropping the cigarette habit. Only 20 to 28 percent of smokers who try to stop are successful. Since the cessation rate is low, researchers are trying to determine how to help parents reduce the amount of secondhand smoke that their children are exposed to.

"Our retrospective study suggests that in adolescents, secondhand smoke exposure could interfere with academic test performance," said Bradley Collins, Ph.D., assistant professor of public health and director of the Health Behavior Research Clinic at Temple University.

The researchers analyzed data from over 6,000 pregnant women and their children from the 1958 British National Child Development Study.

They began looking at long-term effects of prenatal exposure to tobacco. Surprisingly, they discovered that prenatal tobacco exposure itself did not have any affect on standardized test scores.

In the past, research has found a link between prenatal smoke and a high risk of cognitive deficits, learning disabilities, and impulsiveness. No other study looked at the effects of both prenatal and environmental exposure to secondhand smoke past childhood. Other studies have been focused on younger children. This study went through adolescence.

The data was clear. Teens who were exposed to secondhand smoke did score much lower on standardized achievement tests. They scored approximately 30 percent lower.