title: Meconium samples used to assess infant exposure to the components of ETS during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to use meconium samples to assess fetal exposure to compounds present in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to assess fetal exposure to toxic tobacco smoke compounds, samples of meconium from the offspring of women with different levels of tobacco smoke exposure, and the samples of saliva from the mothers were analyzed. Thiocyanate ion as a biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure, and other ions that are indices of such exposure were determined by means of ion chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of ion chromatography analysis of the meconium and maternal saliva samples for the presence of cations and anions (including thiocyanate ion) indicate that the concentration level of specific ions depends on the intensity of environmental tobacco smoke exposure of pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results, it can be concluded that meconium samples can be used to determine the substances from tobacco smoke. The results confirm the effect of smoking during pregnancy on the presence and content of substances from tobacco smoke.
authors: Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty). sylwianarkowicz@10g.pl.
authors: Sylwia
authors: S
authors: Narkowicz
authors: Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty).
authors: Żaneta
authors: Ż
authors: Polkowska
authors: Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland (Department of Obstetrics).
authors: Bogumiła
authors: B
authors: Kiełbratowska
authors: Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty).
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Namieśnik
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000032:analysis; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013861:Thiocyanates; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine; C031760:thiocyanate
keywords: environmental tobacco smoke; infant exposure; ion chromatography; meconium; saliva; thiocyanate ion