Electronic cigarette and pregnancy: dangerous nicotine for the fetus - Headlines

2023-08-09 14:06:53

August 09, 2023

The inhalation of the nicotine present in the liquid of the vapoteuses would be, just like the inhalation of the nicotine of the traditional cigarettes, also harmful for the development of the fetus. Explanations.

Against chronic smoking, many smokers turn to electronic cigarettes. A less harmful habit than tobacco, in particular because the vapoteuse avoids the inhalation of carbon monoxide linked to combustion.

However, the electronic cigarette may not be harmless in pregnant women, at least when the liquid used contains nicotine. This highly addictive substance interferes with the development of the bones and lungs of the fetus. A causal link recently highlighted by American researchers*.

The vaper at risk, even in small doses

To prove it, the team of Professor Emily Bates, the main author of the study, exposed pregnant mice to a dose proportional to what a future mother vaping daily can absorb. In details, ” fetuses that were exposed to vaping ended up having smaller and shorter bones as they developed “. Additionally, nicotine affects activated genes in fetal lungs ».

And you don’t need a lot of nicotine to impact fetal development. ” Even low levels of e-cigarette vapor during pregnancy inhibit growth “, confirm the researchers. How to explain this risk? ” Nicotine passes through the placenta into the fetal circulation where it can accumulate to levels higher than in maternal plasma. This disrupts the development of several organs and systems. »

To best protect pregnant women and unborn children, the effects of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine must be taken into account. A public health priority as “ the popularity of vaping among young people, the addictive nature of nicotine, and the lack of perceived risk suggest that vaping during pregnancy is likely to increase over time concludes Professor Bates.

*University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusUNITED STATES