Exposure in utero to maternal smoking increases risk of asthma

Children exposed in utero to maternal smoking are more likely to have asthma than children exposed to environmental smoke only after birth, reported a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2001;163:429-36). Previous research has shown that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke can cause adverse respiratory health effects, including wheezing and asthma. But this is the first time that evidence has been produced showing the effects of exposure in utero …