Occult maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
de Chazeron
Ingrid
I
Department of Psychiatry B, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, France. idechazeron@chu-clermontferrand.fr
Llorca
Pierre-Michel
PM
Ughetto
Sylvie
S
Coudore
François
F
Boussiron
Didier
D
Perriot
Jean
J
Vendittelli
Françoise
F
Sapin
Vincent
V
Lemery
Didier
D
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine