Pregnant women are exposed to lower levels of toxic chemicals if they vape during pregnancy compared with if they smoke cigarettes, according to new research led by scientists at City St George’s, University of London and published today in Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
Stopping smoking during pregnancy is a key health priority for both the mother and developing baby, with more pregnant women choosing to vape as a way to stop smoking.
Until now, there’s been a lack of reliable data on exposure to harmful substances that can result from vaping during pregnancy.
In the first study to rigorously compare exposure to toxic chemicals from smoking and vaping during pregnancy, a total of 140 pregnant women were recruited to the study from five UK hospitals. They were divided into five groups: those who exclusively smoke (38 people), who only vape but previously smoked (35), who smoke and vape (25), who smoke and use nicotine replacement therapy (10) and those who have no history of using any nicotine or tobacco products (32).
Urine samples were taken at a routine antenatal appointment and analysed to measure levels of nicotine and harmful substances. These included 14 different chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – one of the main toxicants inhaled when smoking or vaping. VOCs are major risk factors for cancer, and for respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Compared with the women who exclusively smoked, urine levels of 10 VOCs were significantly lower in those who exclusively vaped, ranging from a 44% to 97% reduction. They also found that levels of 13 VOCs were similar among women who exclusively vaped compared with those who had never used nicotine or tobacco products.
Professor Michael Ussher, Professor of Behavioural Medicine from the School of Health and Medical Sciences at City St Georges, University of London, who led the study, said:
“Just because mothers-to-be are exposed to fewer harmful chemicals by opting to vape instead of smoking cigarettes, does not mean vaping during pregnancy is safe.”
“Understanding exposure to these toxins in pregnant women is only one half of the picture. We’re now embarking on the most rigorously designed study, to date, to look at whether vaping during pregnancy has any harmful health outcomes for mother or baby.”
Although the team investigated the main known toxins at the time of the study starting, they highlight that some of the toxins were similar for smoking and vaping and there could be other toxic substances found in vaping products that were not analysed in the study.
Professor Michael Ussher added: “Vaping products are constantly evolving, and so we need to keep an eye on any new toxins that we need to check for. It’s an ever-evolving field of research.”
The research was a collaboration between scientists at City St George’s, University of London, University of Nottingham, University College London, Kings College London, The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The UK Health Security Agency. It was funded by Cancer Research UK.
