Fetal toxicology of environmental tobacco smoke

During the past decade, new evidence has been collected regarding the fetal risks of environmental tobacco smoke. Throughout gestation, the unborn baby is exposed to increasing concentrations of nicotine through maternal blood and gastrointestinal and skin absorption of the nicotine in the amniotic fluid. Recent research shows measurable concentrations of cotinine in the hair of infants born to passively smoking mothers. This exposure has been recently associated with effects on fetal growth.