Opening a window or using a fan has little effect in protecting babies and young children from exposure to tobacco smoke, but parents can make a difference to their children's health by banning smoking in the home, according to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Warwick. According to the study, reported in the British Medical Journal, banning smoking at home significantly reduces infant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The researchers interviewed parents from 314 households who smoked in their homes and had young children. Tests from urine samples taken from the infants revealed that a smoking ban in the home led to a small but significant drop in levels of cotinine, a by-product of nicotine.
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