Special groups of smokers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In the United Kingdom over a quarter of pregnant women who smoke continue to do so during pregnancy. These women tend to be young, single, of lower educational achievement, and in manual occupations. If they have a partner, their partner is also more likely to smoke. Smoking has substantial adverse effects on the unborn child, including growth retardation, preterm birth, miscarriage, and perinatal mortality. Most of this harm is probably caused by toxins in cigarette smoke, such as carbon monoxide, nicotine, cyanide, cadmium, and lead. Nicotine itself may cause harm, however, through placental vasoconstriction and possible developmental effects on the fetus.