Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Smoke-Free Homes for Smoke-Free Babies: The Role of Residential Environmental Tobacco Smoke on Low Birth Weight

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is growing evidence that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure may negatively affect birth outcomes, especially birth weight. This study evaluates the effect of residential ETS exposure on the risk of having a low birth weight (LBW) infant and investigates whether there is a dose–response relationship. This retrospective cohort study comprised 2,206 women who participated in the 2004–2005 North Carolina Phase V Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Women self-reported information on ETS exposure and birth weight was obtained from birth certificates. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. When adjusted for marital status and income, women exposed to ETS during pregnancy had increased odds of delivering a LBW baby (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.57). After adjustment for the same covariates, a weak dose–response relationship between ETS and LBW was found (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.60 for women who were exposed to ETS generated by one cigarette smoker; OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.31 for those who were exposed to ETS generated by two or more cigarette smokers). This study provides evidence of the adverse effect of residential ETS on pregnancy outcomes. The observed relationship emphasizes the health hazard that ETS exposure in the home poses to pregnant women and their unborn babies. Educational anti-tobacco campaigns and quit smoking initiatives should target both mothers and fathers to ensure smoke-free living conditions and a healthy environment for all family members.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. US Department of Health and Human Services. (1988). The health consequences of smoking: nicotine addiction. A report of the Surgeon General (pp. 26–50). Rockville, Maryland: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, Center for Health Promotion and Education, Office on Smoking and Health.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Environmental Tobacco Smoke. (2007). Retrieved November 10, 2007, from the American Lung Association Web site. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4521.

  3. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke: A report of the Surgeon General (pp. 617–619). Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, Center for Health Promotion and Education, Office on Smoking and Health.

    Google Scholar 

  4. United Nations Children’s Fund and World Health Organization. (2004). Low birth weight: Country, regional and global estimates (pp. 1–3). New York: UNICEF.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Martin, J., Hamilton, B., & Sutton, P. (2005). Births: Final data for 2003. National Vital Statistics Reports, 54(2), 1–116.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lewit, E. M., Baker, L. S., Hope, C., & Shiono, P. (1995). The direct cost of low birth weight. Future of Children, 5(1), 35–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lawn, J. E., Cousens, S., & Zupan, J. (2005). Four million neonatal deaths: When? Where? Why? The Lancet, 365(9462), 891–900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ashworth, A. (1998). Effects of intrauterine growth retardation on mortality and morbidity in infants and young children. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 52(1), 34–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Dejmek, J., Solansky, I., Podrazilova, K., & Sram, R. (2002). The exposure of non-smoking and smoking mothers to environmental tobacco smoke during different gestational phases and fetal growth. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(6), 601–606.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hruba, D., & Kachlik, P. (2000). The influence of maternal active and passive smoking during pregnancy on birth weight in newborns. Central European Journal of Public Health, 8(4), 249–252.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Roquer, J. M., Figuersras, J., Bostet, F., & Jimenez, R. (1995). Influence on fetal growth of exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Acta Paediatrica, 84(2), 118–121.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ward, C., Lewis, S., & Coleman, T. (2007). Prevalence of maternal smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy and impact on birth weight: Retrospective study using Millennium Cohort. BMC Public Health, 16(7), 81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ojembarrena, A. A., Fernandez, C. J., Velasco, G. A., Chullen, Y. G., & Bayle, S. (2005). Birth weight and familial smoking. Anales de Pediatria, 63(2), 116–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Windham, G. C., Eaton, A., & Hopkins, B. (1999). Evidence for an association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and birth weight: Meta-analysis and new data. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 13(1), 35–57.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Leonardi-Bee, J., Smyth, A., Britton, J., & Coleman, T. (2008). Environmental tobacco smoke on fetal health: Systemic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 93(5), F351–F361.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. PRAMS North Carolina. (2007). How can PRAMS data be used? Retrieved November 24, 2007, from the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics Web site: http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/prams/index.html.

  17. Maldonado, G., & Greenland, S. (1993). Simulation study of confounder-selection strategies. American Journal of Epidemiology, 138(11), 923–936.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Causes and Implications of Low Birth Weight Infants. (2000). Primary determining factors of low birth weight infants. Smoking. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from the Stanford University Web site: http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/herpes/2000/primaryf.htm#Smoking.

  19. Misra, D. P., & Nguyen, R. H. (1999). Environmental tobacco smoke and low birth weight: A hazard in the workplace? Environmental Health Perspectives, 107(6), 897–904.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Jaddoe, V. W., Troe, E. J., Hofman, A., Mackenbach, J. P., Moll, H. A., Steegers, E. A., et al. (2008). Active and passive maternal smoking during pregnancy and the risks of low birth weight and preterm birth: The Generation R Study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 22(2), 162–171.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rebagliato, M., Florey, C. V., & Bolumar, F. (1995). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in nonsmoking pregnant women in relation to birth weight. American Journal of Epidemiology, 142(5), 531–537.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Eskenazi, B., Prehn, A. W., & Christianson, R. E. (1995). Passive and active maternal smoking as measured by serum cotinine: The effect on birthweight. American Journal of Public Health, 85(3), 395–398.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Haddow, J. E., Knight, G. J., Palomaki, G. E., & McCarthy, J. E. (1988). Second-trimester serum cotinine levels in nonsmokers in relation to birth weight. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 159(2), 481–484.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nafstad, P., Fugelseth, D., Qvigstad, E., Zahlen, K., Magnus, P., & Lindemann, R. (1998). Nicotine concentration in the hair of nonsmoking mothers and size of offspring. American Journal of Public Health, 88(1), 120–124.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Fantuzzi, G., Aggazzotti, G., Righi, E., Facchinetti, F., Bertucci, E., Kanitz, S., et al. (2007). Preterm delivery and exposure to active and passive smoking during pregnancy: A case-control study from Italy. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 21(3), 194–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gilliland, F. D., Li, Y. F., & Peters, J. M. (2001). Effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy and environmental tobacco smoke on asthma and wheezing in children. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 163(2), 429–436.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kharrazi, M., DeLorenze, G. N., Kaufman, F. L., Eskenazi, B., Bernert, J. T., Graham, S., et al. (2004). Environmental tobacco smoke and pregnancy outcome. Epidemiology, 15(6), 660–670.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wilson, S. E., Kahn, R. S., Khoury, J., & Lanphear, B. P. (2007). The role of air nicotine in explaining racial differences in cotinine among tobacco-exposed children. Chest, 131(3), 856–862.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bahceciler, N. N., Barlan, I. B., Nuhoglu, Y., & Basaran, M. M. (1999). Parental smoking behavior and the urinary cotinine levels of asthmatic children. Journal of Asthma, 36(2), 171–175.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223-0001, USA

    Corina Pogodina, Larissa R. Brunner Huber, Elizabeth F. Racine & Elena Platonova

Authors
  1. Corina Pogodina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Larissa R. Brunner Huber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elizabeth F. Racine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elena Platonova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Corina Pogodina.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pogodina, C., Brunner Huber, L.R., Racine, E.F. et al. Smoke-Free Homes for Smoke-Free Babies: The Role of Residential Environmental Tobacco Smoke on Low Birth Weight. J Community Health 34, 376–382 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9169-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9169-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation