Background Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke at home has been linked to many complications, including impaired lung ventilatory function; however, there is great variation in intensity of this complication between individuals of different countries. The aim of this study was to determine relationship between regular second-hand smoke exposure at home and the spirometric derived values forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow 50% and peak expiratory flow rate in healthy school boys in Khartoum.

Methods A total of 135 male school pupils were selected randomly from three governmental primary schools for boys in Khartoum. Inclusion criteria were healthy school pupil, 9–14 years old, not active smoker, either exposed regularly to cigarette smoke at home since birth or not exposed to cigarette smoke or any other type of smoke inside or outside the house. All spirometric measurements were performed using Clement Clarke All-flow Spirometer.

Results 69 school pupils were exposed regularly to second-hand smoke at home, whereas 66 pupils were not. Fathers were responsible for 67.5% of second-hand smoke at home; relatives for 30% and mothers for 2.5%. Mean FVC (±SD) was 2.21 ±0.57 l for the exposed pupils and 2.41 ±0.35 l for the non-exposed, showing reduction by about 8%. Mean FEV₁ (mean ±SD) was 2.03 ±0.46 l for the exposed and 2.20 ±0.42 l for the non-exposed, indicating reduction by about 7%. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion Regular second-hand smoke exposure at home causes significant reduction in FVC and FEV₁ by about 7%–8% in school pupils in Khartoum.