MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Study

A 2007 study conducted by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows lung damage in nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke exposure. The findings were presented in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Lead author Chengbo Wang, Ph.D., a magnetic resonance physicist in the Department of Radiology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, stated, "We used a special type of magnetic resonance imaging to find these
structural changes in the lungs. Almost one-third of nonsmokers who had been exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke for a long time developed these structural changes."

Wang added, "To our knowledge, this is the first imaging study to find lung damage in non-smokers heavily exposed to secondhand smoke. We hope our work strengthens the efforts of legislators and policymakers to limit public exposure to secondhand smoke."