Wisconsin childern exposed to too much secondhand smoke, research shows

Media Inquiries news [a] uwhealth (p) org - Follow Us Follow UW Health on Facebook Our Services Smoking Cessation MADISON - Wisconsin children are exposed to secondhand smoke at a rate 40 percent higher than the national average, according to research published in the July issue of Pediatrics. The study, conducted by researchers from the National Cancer Institute, found that 10.5 percent of Wisconsin children age 17 and younger are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. That is the fifth-highest level of secondhand-smoke exposure in the nation. A companion finding shows that 39 percent of Wisconsin youngsters who live with a smoker are exposed to secondhand smoke, second highest in the nation. Based on the data in the report, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center researchers estimated that nearly 139,000 children in Wisconsin are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. The epidemiologists said they were surprised by the research findings because Wisconsin's high rate of child exposure is not associated with a similarly high smoking prevalence rate among adults. In 2007, Wisconsin had the 25th-lowest adult smoking rate in the nation (19.6 percent).