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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed doi:10.1136/adc.2006.108506

Effect of parental smoking on cotinine levels in newborns

  1. Desaline Veronica Joseph (dvj1{at}le.ac.uk)
  1. University of Leicester, United Kingdom
    1. Judith Ann Jackson (judith.jackson{at}warwick.ac.uk)
    1. University of Warwick, United Kingdom
      1. Jennifer A Westaway (jaw22{at}le.ac.uk)
      1. University of Leicester, United Kingdom
        1. Nick A Taub (nat2{at}le.ac.uk)
        1. University of Leicester, United Kingdom
          1. Stewart A Petersen (sxp{at}le.ac.uk)
          1. University of Leicester, United Kingdom
            1. Michael P Wailoo (mw33{at}le.ac.uk)
            1. University of Leicester, United Kingdom
              • Published Online First 19 June 2007

              Abstract

              Background: Smoking is a major risk factor for cot death. Many infants smoke passively as a result of parental smoking. We report on infants exposed to a smoking environment and how they accumulate metabolites of cigarette smoke, such as cotinine, which may be physiologically harmful.

              Aim: To assess cotinine levels in infants of smoking parents.

              Method: 104 infants, of whom 71 were of smoking parents and 33 non-smoking, were assessed for cotinine excretion in urine. All cotinine levels were measured at approximately 12 weeks of age. The subjects were selected from a database of infants in developmental physiological studies, which assessed the impact of various factors on early postnatal development.

              Results: On average babies with at least one parent who was a current cigarette smoker excreted 5.58 (95%CI: 3.4 to 9.5) times as much cotinine in the urine as did the babies of non-smoking parents. Maternal smoking was the largest contributing component. Co sleeping and the minimum room temperature were significant contributory factors.

              Conclusion: Infants from smoking households, accumulate cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, which may have a detrimental effect on the cardio respiratory system.

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                1. adc.2006.108506v1
                2. 92/6/F484most recent

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