URINARY COTININE LEVELS IN EARLY-PREGNANCY

We tested the hypotheses that in early pregnancy smokers have lower ur inary cotinine levels than nonpregnant smokers, and that pregnant nons mokers exposed to passive smoke have higher cotinine levels than nonsm okers not exposed to passive smoke. This was a prospective, quantitati ve, comparative study of the urinary cotinine levels and smoking chara cteristics of pregnant and nonpregnant females. A urine specimen was c ollected from each subject and the cotinine/creatinine level determine d using radio-immunoassay, A questionnaire regarding smoking status, h ealth issues, and demographic variables was administered to each subje ct. There was no difference in cotinine level between pregnant smokers and control smokers. Pregnant nonsmokers with passive smoke exposure had higher cotinine levels than the same group not passively exposed. Confidence in ability to stop smoking was associated with lower number s of cigarettes consumed, but was not reflected by lower cotinine leve ls. These data suggest that if the mother smokes, the fetus is exposed from conception to levels of nicotine which are as high as those in a dult female smokers who are not pregnant. The level of fetal exposure to nicotine during early gestation is independent of intention to alte r smoking behaviour. Women should be targeted for antismoking public h ealth messages before conception.