INFLUENCE ON FETAL GROWTH OF EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO-SMOKE DURING PREGNANCY

We analysed the effect of exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy o n fetal growth parameters in 129 term newborns. Children were classifi ed into four depending on exposure on the basis of a questionnaire com pleted by the mother. The results confirmed that tobacco smoking reduc ed weight, length, cranial and thoracic perimeters at birth when expos ure was due to either active or passive smoking. Weight deficits of in fants whose mothers smoked heavily (458 g) were higher than those whos e mothers were exposed to passive smoking (192 g). We conclude that pa ssive smoking is a very important variable and should be taken into ac count in any study of neonatal growth parameters.