A low level of smoke exposure can cause irreparable damage to cells essential to breathing.
A low level of smoke exposure can cause irreparable damage to cells essential to breathing.
It has been known for a long time that secondhand smoke or smoking occasionally can be risky for your health. But how much exposure of smoking might damage airway cells hasn't been clear. To determine the association between smoking exposure and airway cells, researchers followed 121 Americans who were nonsmokers, active smokers or low-exposure smokers. All participants had their urine tested for levels of nicotine to categorise them as nonsmokers, active smokers or having low exposure. Cells lining the lung airways were obtained by bronchoscopy and their gene expression was assessed.
The cells in the lung lining detect and respond to low levels of tobacco smoke with genetic modifications. The damage occurred among casual smokers and even after exposure to secondhand smoke. The initial damage, while not usually severe, can be cumulative and prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke could lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and even lung cancer.
The study shows that even low levels of tobacco smoke exposure can pose a health risk to our lungs.
It has been known for a long time that secondhand smoke or smoking occasionally can be risky for your health. But how much exposure of smoking might damage airway cells hasn't been clear. To determine the association between smoking exposure and airway cells, researchers followed 121 Americans who were nonsmokers, active smokers or low-exposure smokers. All participants had their urine tested for levels of nicotine to categorise them as nonsmokers, active smokers or having low exposure. Cells lining the lung airways were obtained by bronchoscopy and their gene expression was assessed.
The cells in the lung lining detect and respond to low levels of tobacco smoke with genetic modifications. The damage occurred among casual smokers and even after exposure to secondhand smoke. The initial damage, while not usually severe, can be cumulative and prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke could lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and even lung cancer.
The study shows that even low levels of tobacco smoke exposure can pose a health risk to our lungs.
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