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The effects of prenatal cigarette and e-cigarette exposure on infant neurobehaviour: A comparison to a control group
Suzanne Froggatt1, Nadja Reissland1, Judith Covey1
1Psychology Department, Durham University, Science site, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
Insights
Prenatal exposure to both cigarettes and e-cigarettes is linked to abnormal infant reflexes. Cigarette exposure also negatively impacts motor maturity and self-regulation, unlike e-cigarette exposure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Infant neurobehavior offers insights into central nervous system development.
- Prenatal cigarette exposure is known to cause neurodevelopmental deficits and adverse birth outcomes.
- Increasing e-cigarette use among pregnant women necessitates comparative research on prenatal exposure effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the neurobehavioral and birth outcomes of infants exposed prenatally to e-cigarettes versus traditional cigarettes.
- To assess the impact of prenatal e-cigarette exposure on infant development.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 83 infants categorized into three groups: prenatal cigarette exposure, prenatal e-cigarette exposure, and no prenatal nicotine exposure.
- Infants were evaluated for birth outcomes (birthweight, gestation, head circumference) and Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) scores at one month of age.
Main Results:
- Both cigarette and e-cigarette exposed infants exhibited a significantly higher number of abnormal reflexes.
- Infants exposed to cigarettes showed significantly poorer performance in self-regulation and motor maturity.
- E-cigarette exposed infants demonstrated decreased motor maturity and marginally decreased self-regulation compared to unexposed infants.
- While cigarette-exposed infants had lower birthweight and head circumference, e-cigarette-exposed infants did not differ in these birth outcomes compared to the unexposed group.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to examine neurological outcomes associated with prenatal e-cigarette exposure.
- Findings suggest potential public health implications regarding e-cigarette safety during pregnancy.
- Further research is warranted to understand the long-term neurological effects of prenatal e-cigarette use.
Background:
Infant neurobehaviour provides an insight into the development of the central nervous system during infancy, with behavioural abnormalities highlighting a cause for concern. Research has demonstrated that prenatal exposure to cigarettes leads to deficits within neurobehavioural development, along with negative birth outcomes detrimental to subsequent development. With the growing use of e-cigarettes amongst pregnant women, this study explores how prenatal e-cigarette exposure compares to prenatal cigarette exposure.
Methods:
Eighty-three infants were involved in the study, either exposed prenatally to cigarettes or e-cigarettes or not exposed to either. Differences were assessed between these three groups for birth outcomes and scores on the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) at one month of age.
Findings:
Both cigarette and e-cigarette exposed infants had a significantly greater number of abnormal reflexes (p = ·001; p = ·002). For both self-regulation and motor maturity, cigarette exposed infants performed significantly worse (p = ·010; p = ·002), with e-cigarette exposed infants having decreased motor maturity (p = ·036) abilities and marginally decreased for self-regulation (p = ·057). Birth outcomes, namely birthweight, gestation and head circumference, did not differ for e-cigarette exposed infants compared with infants who were not prenatally exposed to nicotine. Cigarette exposed infants had a significantly lower birthweight (p = ·021) and reduced head circumference (p = ·008) in comparison to non-exposed infants.
Interpretation:
To our knowledge, this is the first research study assessing a neurological outcome as a result of e-cigarette exposure. Findings of this have potentially important implications for public health policies regarding the safety and use of e-cigarettes throughout pregnancy.
Funding:
This research was funded by a doctoral training partnership scholarship via the ESRC, ES/P000762/1.
