In utero exposure to tobacco smoke and reproductive health related markers in children: Evidence from the Rhea mother-child cohort, Crete, Greece
Year: 2022
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background and aims: Early fetal exposure to tobacco smoke has been associated with several adverse effects on offspring reproductive development possibly due to the suspected endocrine disrupting action of toxic compounds contained in cigarettes. We investigated the association of prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke with anogenital distance measures in young children and reproductive-related hormones in pre-adolescents from the Rhea birth cohort in Greece. Methods: Information regarding tobacco smoke exposure was obtained from maternal questionnaires throughout pregnancy. Anogenital distances - sexually dimorphic, longer in males than females- [(AGD; anus to upper penis), anoscrotal distance (ASD; anus to scrotum), anoclitoral (ACD; anus to clitoris) and anofourchetal distance (AFD; anus to fourchette)] were measured in 350 boys and 350 girls at the age of 2 years. At 10-11 years of age, we measured dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in 242 children (132 boys and 110 girls). Adjusted associations were obtained via multivariable regression analyses. Results: Maternal active smoking before and during pregnancy was associated with increased ACD in girls (adjusted β= 1.9 mm; 95% CI: 0.6, 3.3, β= 1.7 mm; 95% CI: 0.1, 3.3 respectively). Moreover, maternal exposure to passive smoking -via paternal active smoking- was associated with decreased LH in girls (adjusted β=-0.7 mUI/mL; 95% CI: -1.4, 0.0). In boys, maternal smoking in early pregnancy was associated with increased FSH (adjusted β= 0.5 mUI/mL; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.8) and the same association was observed for maternal smoking during any trimester of gestation(adjusted β= 0.4 mUI/mL; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.7). Conclusions: In utero exposure to tobacco smoke was associated with increased anogenital distances in girls and altered hormonal levels in both sexes. Further research is needed to understand whether these findings may indicate long-term adverse effects on the reproductive health. Keywords: smoking during pregnancy, anogenital distance, reproductive hormones
Source: ISEE Conference Abstracts
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4316924409