BACKGROUND: This study explores whether pregnant nonsmokers' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the average birth weight at term. METHODS: The population studied consists of pregnant nonsmokers participating in a study called Smoke-free Newborn Study. The participants (n = 1612) answered a questionnaire during 12th to 16th gestational week about their exposure to ETS at home and outside the home. RESULTS: Pregnant nonsmokers exposed to ETS both at home and outside the home gave birth to children with a birth weight of 78.9 g (95% CI -143.7 to -14.1) (P=0.02) lower than the weight of children born to women unexposed to ETS. There was no significant reduction in birth weight among women exposed to ETS at home only or outside the home only. A nonsignificant dose-response association was seen between increasing daily exposure to ETS and reduction in birth weight. CONCLUSION: Nonsmoking pregnant women who were exposed to ETS at home as well as outside the home gave birth to children with a 79 g reduction in birth weight compared to children of unexposed women. The fact that exposure to ETS has an effect on the birth weight is regarded as essential. The authors recommend that pregnant women should not be exposed to passive smoking, and that it should be considered whether workplace legislation should be instituted in order to protect pregnant women against the adverse effects of passive smoking.
BACKGROUND: This study explores whether pregnant nonsmokers' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the average birth weight at term. METHODS: The population studied consists of pregnant nonsmokers participating in a study called Smoke-free Newborn Study. The participants (n = 1612) answered a questionnaire during 12th to 16th gestational week about their exposure to ETS at home and outside the home. RESULTS: Pregnant nonsmokers exposed to ETS both at home and outside the home gave birth to children with a birth weight of 78.9 g (95% CI -143.7 to -14.1) (P=0.02) lower than the weight of children born to women unexposed to ETS. There was no significant reduction in birth weight among women exposed to ETS at home only or outside the home only. A nonsignificant dose-response association was seen between increasing daily exposure to ETS and reduction in birth weight. CONCLUSION: Nonsmoking pregnant women who were exposed to ETS at home as well as outside the home gave birth to children with a 79 g reduction in birth weight compared to children of unexposed women. The fact that exposure to ETS has an effect on the birth weight is regarded as essential. The authors recommend that pregnant women should not be exposed to passive smoking, and that it should be considered whether workplace legislation should be instituted in order to protect pregnant women against the adverse effects of passive smoking.
Authors: Kristin B Ashford; Ellen Hahn; Lynne Hall; Mary Kay Rayens; Melody Noland; James E Ferguson Journal: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs Date: 2010 Sep-Oct
Authors: Ayman A E El-Mohandes; Michele Kiely; Susan M Blake; Marie G Gantz; M Nabil El-Khorazaty Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2010-03-08 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Kathryn I Pollak; Susan Denman; Kristina Coop Gordon; Pauline Lyna; Pilar Rocha; Rebecca N Brouwer; Laura Fish; Donald H Baucom Journal: Ethn Health Date: 2010 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Sherry Zhou; David G Rosenthal; Scott Sherman; Judith Zelikoff; Terry Gordon; Michael Weitzman Journal: Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care Date: 2014-06-25
Authors: Rohan H C Palmer; L Cinnamon Bidwell; Andrew C Heath; Leslie A Brick; Pamela A F Madden; Valerie S Knopik Journal: Behav Genet Date: 2016-01-29 Impact factor: 2.805