Question

 

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the fraction of cigarette smoke that persists in indoor environments after smoking. We investigated the effects of neonatal and adult THS exposure on bodyweight and blood cell populations in C57BL/6 J mice. At the end of neonatal exposure, THS-treated male and female mice had significantly lower bodyweight than their respective control mice. However, five weeks after neonatal exposure ended, THS-treated mice weighed the same as controls. In contrast, adult THS exposure did not change bodyweight of mice. On the other hand, both neonatal and adult THS exposure had profound effects on the hematopoietic system. Fourteen weeks after neonatal THS exposure ended, eosinophil number and platelet volume were significantly higher, while hematocrit, mean cell volume, and platelet counts were significantly lower compared to control. Similarly, adult THS exposure also decreased platelet counts and increased neutrophil counts. Moreover, both neonatal and adult THS exposure caused a significant increase in percentage of B-cells and significantly decreased percentage of myeloid cells. Our results demonstrate that neonatal THS exposure decreases bodyweight and that THS exposure induces persistent changes in the hematopoietic system independent of age at exposure. These results also suggest that THS exposure may have adverse effects on human health.

1. Do the data support the author’s conclusions? Which findings were used to support specific conclusion(s) and why do such findings support this conclusion (rather than some other conclusion) Specifically link three results with the conclusion they support.

Answer 1

Yes the data supports author's conclusion.

Finding	Conclusion	Explanation
THS treated neonatal mice showed smaller body weight than control. After being adults the body weight became normal. THS treated adult mice did not show significant difference in body weight.	Neonatal THS exposure decreases bodyweight	Only the neonatal mice and not the adult mice showed difference in body weight.
Both neonatal and adult THS exposure had profound effects on the hematopoietic system. The eosinophil number and platelet volume were significantly higher, while hematocrit, mean cell volume, and platelet counts were significantly lower compared to control.	THS exposure induces persistent changes in the hematopoietic system independent of age.	A long term significant change in the hematopoetic system occured compared to control in both class.
Increase in B cells and decrease in myeloid cells along with significant changes in normal hematopoetic system	THS exposure might have adverse effect on human health	As mice is a mammalian system and THS exposure caused a long term significant changes in vivo, that suggests there is a possibility of the same trend may affect human health too.