Passive smoking hurts children's arteries

Small amounts of passive smoking can damage children's arteries, a study by Finnish academics has found.

The research, by the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku, found reduced arterial function in 8 to 11-year-olds exposed to second-hand smoke. Their exposure to smoke was measured by the levels of cotinine in their blood, which the body produces to break down nicotine in tobacco smoke.