engleski

Tobacco smoke and pregnancy: segmental analysis of nicotine in maternal hair

The investigation assessed nicotine metabolism prior to and during pregnancy in relation to different maternal smoking habits. It included segmental hair analysis in three groups of post-partum women: 32 active smokers, 35 passive smokers, and 19 unexposed nonsmokers. Maternal hair at least 12 cm long was collected after delivery and was divided into four 3 cm long segments representing each trimester of pregnancy and the three months prior to pregnancy. Nicotine hair concentration was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nicotine levels were the highest in the three-month period before pregnancy and it gradually decreased with advancing gestation in all study groups. Our results suggest that when assessing tobacco exposure as measured by nicotine in hair, metabolic changes of nicotine during pregnancy should be taken into consideration.

nicotine; segmental hair analysis; pregnancy; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

nije evidentirano