Cited by 157Smoking Behavior and CessationPrenatal Substance Exposure EffectsPregnancy and Medication Impact

Maternal tobacco exposure and cotinine levels in fetal fluids in the first half of pregnancy

Jauniaux, E·1999·Obstetrics & Gynecology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distribution of cotinine in fetal fluids and serum during the first half of pregnancy, and compare the fetal and maternal cotinine levels in passive and active smokers. METHODS: Maternal smoking status was determined by questionnaire in 85 pregnant women requesting abortion for psychosocial reasons between 7 and 17 weeks' gestation. Coelomic and amniotic fluid samples were collected between 7 and 11 weeks and fetal blood and amniotic fluid between 11 and 17 weeks. Cotinine levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Women classified themselves as nonsmokers in 40 cases, passive smokers in 19 cases, and voluntary smokers in 26 cases. Five nonsmokers, 16 passive smokers, and all smokers had cotinine levels above the detection limit of the assay. Cotinine was invariably found in coelomic, amniotic, and fetal serum when maternal serum and urine cotinine levels exceeded 25 and 250 ng/mL, respectively. Higher cotinine levels were found in fetal fluids and serum than in maternal serum. Positive linear correlations were found between maternal urine and amniotic fluid cotinine concentrations (r = .75), between maternal urine cotinine concentration and number of cigarettes smoked per day (r = .66), and between maternal and fetal serum cotinine concentrations (r = .97). CONCLUSION: Cotinine accumulates in the fetal compartments as early as 7 weeks' gestation in both active and passive smokers. Women should be advised to give up smoking from conception and avoid environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0029-7844(98)00318-4

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  • Nicotine crosses the placenta in utero.

    “Nicotine, the primary addictive substance in tobacco smoke, has been shown to cross the placenta in utero as evidenced by high levels of cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, in the amniotic fluid of pregnant smokers and in blood spots from neonates exposed in utero.11,12”

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Authors
Jauniaux, E.
Affiliations
Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
Corresponding author
Jauniaux, E
Venue
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Published
1999-01
Volume
93
Issue
1
Pages
25-29
ISSN
0029-7844 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2004434283
Cited by
157
References
22
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 7
FWCI
3.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy and Medication Impact
Keywords
maternal smoking, passive smoking, cotinine, fetal fluids, amniotic fluid, coelomic fluid, fetal serum, first trimester, pregnancy, environmental tobacco smoke, cigarette smoking during pregnancy
MeSH terms
Amniotic Fluid, Cotinine, Female, Fetal Blood, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, First, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Surveys and Questionnaires, Smoking, Tissue Distribution, Tobacco Smoke Pollution, Maternal Exposure

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