The only factor affecting the no surgery group was parental smoking.

Table I gives a summary of the sociodemographic characteristics and parental smoking of the four groups.

But in a few cases, parental smoking has become a factor in determining custody.

According to Mr. Banzhaf, at least 11 states have issued court rulings on parental smoking.

The authors found no significant relation between child's height and total parental smoking in the home in contrast to the previous conclusions drawn from the 1982 data.

The scientists said their study was "more exploratory and suggestive than definitive," in part because parental smoking is an imperfect measure of environmental tobacco smoke.

Children's hedonic judgments of cigarette smoke odor: Effects of parental smoking and maternal mood.

The studies on passive smoking, as it is often called, also strengthen the link between parental smoking and respiratory damage in children.

"New evidence shows that parental smoking contributes to higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome, as well as asthma, bronchitis, colds."