Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Effect of passive smoking using maternal and neonatal salivary cotinine measurements
Kubo Sachiyo1, Adachi Kumiko, Nagasaka Keiko
1Department of Nursing Sciences, Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan. kubo-sachiyo1@hs.tmu.ac.jp
Background:
In Japan, the rate of passive smoking among pregnant women is 52.7%, and smokers are usually their husbands (80.8%). Fetal environmental tobacco smoke has been measured using cotinine levels in maternal and neonatal hair, urine, or umbilical cord blood. However, using saliva from neonates immediately after birth has not been explored among noninvasive methods.
Objective:
The aims of this study were to (a) determine the relationship between fathers' smoking status during pregnancy and neonatal and maternal salivary cotinine immediately after delivery and (b) evaluate the potential use of salivary cotinine measurements immediately after birth to determine the exposure of the neonates to passive smoke.
Method:
A cross-sectional survey design was used. The participants were 34 pairs of nonsmoking mothers and their neonates who had visited for a health check-up at a general hospital in Tokyo. Saliva samples were collected from mothers and their neonates within 24 hours of delivery. All samples were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Information about maternal age, neonate's birth weight, and smoking status of the father were obtained by interview and questionnaire.
Results:
Salivary cotinine levels in neonates and mothers with indoor-smoking fathers were significantly higher compared with those in neonates and mothers with nonsmoking and outdoor-smoking fathers. A very strong positive correlation was observed between neonatal and maternal cotinine levels.
Conclusion:
Smoking indoors by the father affected the mother and neonate. Salivary cotinine measurement is a feasible method to evaluate passive exposure of neonates to tobacco smoke.
More Related Videos
05:31Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
09:50Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke
Published on: February 12, 2015
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...