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How Does Second Hand Smoke Affect Newborns?

Legislation banning smoking in public places protects individuals from second-hand smoke. Adults can ask smokers not to light up in their home. When parents or others smoke in the home or car, newborn babies breathe the second hand smoke. Short and long-term damage to newborn babies' lungs occurs from particulates in smoke.

  1. Impaired Alveoli Development

    • One serious health issue from newborns breathing secondhand smoke is decreased alveoli development. Alveoli are small air sacs in the lungs where carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange occurs. Newborns are born with only one-fifth of the needed 300 million alveoli. Normally from birth to age 8 these tiny air sacs develop. A 2006 study by researchers at UC Davis found that many infants exposed to second-hand smoke had increased apoptosis or cell death and did not develop sufficient alveoli for respiratory health.

    Increased Asthma

    • Newborns exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, and the particulates increase the likelihood of severe asthma attacks. Newborns with asthma have excessive mucus production and inflammation and spasms in the bronchial tubes. The Newborns Asthma and Parental Smoking (NAPS) Project promotes parents realizing the harmful effects of smoking. Their slogan, "Care for my air," emphasizes that since newborns cannot speak, parents need to be vigilant about not smoking around their infants or allowing others to do so.

    Increased Chance for Diseases

    • The Office of the Surgeon General reports that secondhand smoke can cause two serious lung diseases: bronchitis and pneumonia. Bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes and increased mucus production. Infants with bronchitis cough and do not have healthy respiratory function. Pneumonia is a serious lung disease in which the alveoli are infected and inflamed. Liquid in the lungs impairs respiration. Also, infants exposed to secondhand smoke have more ear infections. The toxins in smoke irritates the eustachian tube. This leads to swelling, infection and fluid retention.

    Increased Risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

    • Newborns who breathe second-hand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers at McMasters University investigated this in a 2008 study. Normally, the adrenal gland releases hormones called catecholamines to cause babies to move their heads when face down and oxygen-deprived. Babies who are exposed to nicotine are more accustomed to oxygen deprivation, and therefore less likely to have this life-saving adrenal response. To reduce the risk of SIDS, experts recommend having babies sleep on their backs and not exposing them to second-hand smoke.

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