Prenatal hair nicotine analysis in homes with multiple smokers.

Prenatal exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is responsible for adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth. Smoking at home is the primary source of exposure to women during pregnancy. Hair nicotine analysis of mothers and infants was used to describe the relationship between prenatal SHS exposure and number of household smokers. Maternal hair nicotine was strongly correlated with the number of household smokers and was a more sensitive measure of household smoking than infant hair. Home smoking bans and focused public media campaigns on the harmful effects of SHS exposure are necessary prevention strategies to avoid adverse perinatal outcomes.