A new study from the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (IS Global) has just rang the alarm: Children exposed to secondhand smoke from birth or in the first years of life are at risk of biological aging earlier than normal.
Not only affecting appearance, this aging process is also associated with the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases later on.
In the context of cigarette smoke still present in many families, this discovery poses an urgent need to protect children from toxic environmental factors right from birth.
Cigarette smoke and black carbon dust are the main culprits
According to Healthshots, the study was conducted on 1,173 children aged 6 to 11 in the HELIX project - an early environmental research initiative in six European countries, including Spain.
After selecting a suitable bieuemic watch model and adjusting the influencing factors, the research team discovered:
Smoke from mothers during pregnancy is associated with increased biological aging in children.
After giving birth, cigarette smoke from parents and black carbon dust in the home also have a similar effect.
Notably, two other factors are related to slowing down the aging process: An organic pesticide (DMDTP) and a preservative organic pollutant (PCB-138). According to scientists, this may be related to a diet rich in vegetables and fruits or a body mass index (BMI).
According to the research team, environmental factors during pregnancy and early life can have a strong - even irreversible - impact on the body's metabolism and physiology, thereby affecting long-term health.
Early biological aging is associated with a high risk of metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration.
If you are smoking or living in a smoking environment, this is the time to reconsider. Your health and that of your future generations are being affected every day.
