Smokers' Infants Have High Nicotine Metabolite Levels

Recent research has shown that the infants of smokers have higher levels of a nicotine metabolite in their urine.

The study included 104 infants of smokers and non-smokers.

The study also suggests a connection between smoking parents and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

In homes where at least one parent smokes, infants have 5.5 times higher levels of a nicotine toxin called cotinine in their urine than infants of nonsmokers, a British study finds.

Sleeping with parents and lower-temperature rooms were also associated with increased cotinine levels in infants, said the study by researchers at the University of Leicester Medical School and Warwick University.

The researchers also noted that sleeping with a parent is a known risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). They suggest that one reason for this could be an infant's proximity to parents' clothing or other objects contaminated with smoke particles.

Forbes

[edit on 2007/6/20 by GradyPhilpott]