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High cotinine levels are persistent during the first days of life in newborn second hand smokers

Carmen Ivorra1, Consuelo García-Vicent2, Francisco Ponce1

  • 1Cardiovascular Risk Unit, Hospital General, University of Valencia, Department of Pediatrics, Avenida Tres Cruces 2, Valencia, 46014, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, 28049, Spain.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|November 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during pregnancy leads to high cotinine levels in newborns, indicating significant exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) from birth. This cotinine exposure is linked to reduced birth weight and length in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Toxicology
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy poses known risks to newborns.
  • High prevalence of pediatric exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) persists.
  • The extent of cotinine levels in newborns exposed to maternal smoking in utero remains largely unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of maternal smoking habits during pregnancy on neonatal cotinine levels.
  • To determine cotinine concentrations in newborns during the initial days of life.
  • To explore the correlation between maternal smoking, umbilical cord blood (UCB) cotinine, and neonatal plasma cotinine.

Main Methods:

  • Cotinine concentration was measured in umbilical cord blood (UCB) and maternal and newborn peripheral blood.
  • Data from 90 maternal-newborn UCB sample dyads and 71 newborns were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Cotinine levels in UCB significantly differed based on maternal smoking status: non-smokers (9.9 ng/ml), moderate smokers (67.3 ng/ml), and heavy smokers (137.7 ng/ml).
  • Strong correlations were observed between maternal and UCB cotinine (r=0.748) and between UCB and newborn plasma cotinine at 48 hours (r=0.541).
  • Newborns of smokers exhibited elevated cotinine levels (median 31.7-59.1 ng/ml) up to 48 hours postpartum, and reduced birth weight/length correlated with UCB cotinine.

Conclusions:

  • A significant positive association exists between UCB and neonatal plasma cotinine levels.
  • High cotinine levels in newborns of smoker mothers confirm substantial SHS exposure from birth.
  • Findings underscore the importance of maternal smoking cessation for infant health and can enhance awareness of smoking's adverse effects during pregnancy.
Abstract

Keywords:
Birth weightMaternal smokingSecond hand smokeUmbilical cord blood cotinine

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