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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Isolation of Mouse Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Exposure to Experimental Cigarette Smoke at Air Liquid Interface
Published on: February 21, 2011
Occult maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke exposure
Ingrid de Chazeron1, Pierre-Michel Llorca, Sylvie Ughetto
1Department of Psychiatry B, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, France. idechazeron@chu-clermontferrand.fr
Background:
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a recognised air pollutant. Its harmful effects have been found to be implicated in health disorders, including unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. The discrepancy between self-reported environmental tobacco smoke exposure and cotinine levels in pregnant non-smokers in France was examined.
Method:
Plasma cotinine was determined by a CPG-SM method on women who had answered a self-questionnaire describing their habits and environment during pregnancy.
Results:
Of 698 pregnant women reported as non-smokers, 305 (43.7%) claimed not to be exposed to ETS, yet 196 of these (64.3%) had plasma cotinine levels above the limit of detection.
Conclusion:
Self-reported data on ETS exposure in pregnant women therefore underestimate actual exposure. However, cotinine assay can rectify this misclassification. An accurate identification of this risk factor will help to change attitudes towards ETS and avert its adverse effects on mother and fetus.
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