Paternal Childhood Passive Smoking Could Impact Offspring's Lung Health Well Into Adulthood

Recent research highlights a concerning intergenerational link between passive smoking during a father's childhood and long-term respiratory health issues in his children. Published in the respiratory journal Thorax, the study finds that exposure to secondhand smoke during a father's formative years may impair lung function and elevate the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in his offspring, even decades later.

The investigation utilized data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS), including over 8,000 children with documented lung function tests and their parents' respiratory health histories. Notably, the study observed that fathers who experienced passive smoking in childhood had children with a 56% increased likelihood of lower FEV1 (a key measure of lung function) throughout their lives. Additionally, these children faced twice the risk of developing COPD by middle age.

Importantly, the harmful effects were compounded if the children were also exposed to passive smoke themselves. Children who experienced passive smoking during childhood and had fathers exposed as children were twice as likely to have below-average lung function. The research suggests that before puberty, harmful environmental exposures like passive smoke can potentially alter gene expression and affect lung repair mechanisms over generations.

While this is an observational study and cannot establish direct causality, it underscores the lasting impact of passive smoking not only on smokers but also on future generations. The findings strongly advocate for fathers to avoid smoking around their children during childhood to reduce the risk of impaired lung development later in life. With over 63% of adolescents exposed to passive smoke globally, this research emphasizes the importance of public health measures aimed at protecting children from secondhand smoke exposure.

Ultimately, the study highlights the need for ongoing awareness and behavioral changes among parents to prevent intergenerational health issues associated with smoking, reinforcing that reducing passive smoke exposure today can improve respiratory health outcomes for future generations. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-dad-childhood-passive-confer-lifelong.html