Altered microbiomes in thirdhand smoke-exposed children and their home environments.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Tobacco smoke contains numerous toxic chemicals that accumulate in indoor environments creating thirdhand smoke (THS). We investigated if THS-polluted homes differed in children's human and built-environment microbiomes as compared to THS-free homes.

Methods

Participants were n = 19 THS-exposed children and n = 10 unexposed children (≤5 years) and their caregivers. Environmental and biological samples were analyzed for THS pollutants and exposure. Swab samples were collected from the built-environment (floor, table, armrest, bed frame) and child (finger, nose, mouth, and ear canal), and 16S ribosomal RNA genes were analyzed for bacterial taxa using high-throughput DNA sequencing.

Results

Phylogenetic α-diversity was significantly higher for the built-envi

SUBMITTER: Kelley ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8410873 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature