title: Prenatal smoking exposure and neonatal DNA damage in relation to birth outcomes.
abstract: This study investigated whether mothers with prenatal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure increased the newborn genetic damage and adverse birth outcomes. Study participants were women receiving prenatal care at three hospitals in Central Taiwan and their newborns. Participants were divided into two groups (nonsmokers and ETS-exposed non-smokers) based on maternal ETS-exposed status. Comet assay were performed for cord blood samples. Infants born to mothers with prenatal ETS exposure had the highest mean cord blood DNA damage score (69.7 +/- 42.3) and poorer birth outcomes. No negative fetal growth effects appeared among newborns with low DNA damage levels. Among newborns with high DNA damage levels (comet scores >50), those born to prenatal ETS exposure had an average reduction of 252.7 g in birth weight, 1.10 cm shorter in length and a 0.92-cm decrease in head circumference, compared to newborns with no smoking exposure. This study shows that the DNA damage scores can be used as an effect-modifier on the relationships between ETS exposure and adverse birth outcome. The association appears more apparent for the ETS exposure in relation with more severe DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huai-Chih
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Hong-Dar Isaac
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chouh-Jiuan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ruey-Yun
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hsien-Tsai
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yang-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Tsan-Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Fang-Yang
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013624:Taiwan