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Smoking during pregnancy: subsequent effects on offspring immune competence and disease vulnerability in later life

Sheung P Ng1, Judith T Zelikoff

  • 1New York University School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine, Tuxedo, NY, USA.

Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)
|December 26, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal cigarette smoke (CS) exposure increases children's risk for developing serious diseases later in life, including cancer and asthma. This review highlights the urgent need for more research into these long-term health effects.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy exposes approximately 1 million babies annually to cigarette smoke (CS).
  • Previous research focused on immediate perinatal issues like low birthweight and preterm birth.
  • Emerging evidence links prenatal CS exposure to later-onset diseases in offspring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review epidemiologic and toxicologic studies on the link between prenatal CS exposure and subsequent disease vulnerabilities.
  • To focus on immunologically-related outcomes: cancer and asthma.
  • To define the current knowledge, highlight disease risks, and identify research gaps in children's health.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of existing epidemiologic and toxicologic literature.
  • Synthesis of studies investigating the association between prenatal CS exposure and offspring health outcomes.
  • Focus on cancer and asthma as key immunologically-related conditions.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal CS exposure is associated with increased risks for later-onset diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and asthma.
  • The review consolidates evidence demonstrating a significant link between maternal smoking and long-term health issues in children.
  • Specific focus on immunological outcomes like cancer and asthma reveals significant vulnerabilities.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure poses a serious risk for developing chronic diseases, particularly cancer and asthma, later in life.
  • Further research is crucial to fully understand the extent and mechanisms of these long-term health vulnerabilities in children.
  • Addressing prenatal CS exposure is critical for improving long-term pediatric health outcomes.

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