Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Smoking on Child Health

Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke remains common, through active smoking and/or passive environmental exposure, and is linked to adverse childhood outcomes. Not only have high-quality studies and meta-analyses demonstrated increased risks of prenatal as well as postnatal complications, but adverse child outcomes are well described. In utero exposure to tobacco smoke has been associated with congenital anomalies, infant and teenager overweight and obesity, and neuropsychiatric sequelae. In addition, certain childhood malignancies have been linked to paternal smoking during pregnancy. In this chapter, adverse childhood outcomes related to intrauterine exposure to electronic cigarettes and marijuana are described.