In children, passive smoking is known to increase both theoccurrence of lower respiratory tract illnesses such aspneumonia and bronchitis, partiCUlarly early in life, and thefrequency of chronic respiratory symptoms. 1'" These lattereffects are enhanced by simultaneous exposure to other airpollutants.3 Children exposed to parental smoking also showa small reduction in lung function and in the rate of lunggrowth during childhood and in utero. So7 In older children andyoung adults (5 - 20 years), the prevalence of chronic cough.sputum production and/or persistent wheeze is alsopositively linked to parental smoking,',5 while the prevalenceof asthma, atopy, increased serum levels of IgE. and thefrequency of middle-ear diseases have also been describedin some, but not all, studies.s.1l Birth weight in the newbornis also negatively affected by maternal smoking, withdocumented reductions of up to 200 g.'213 Children whoactively smoke have a reduction in the expected increase offorced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and anincreased prevalence of cough and breathlessness. 1