Carcinogen in tobacco smoke can be passed to fetus

Researchers have found that one of the strongest carcinogens in tobacco smoke is transmitted to developing fetuses when a pregnant woman smokes.

Stephen Hecht, a scientist at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, found by- products of the nicotine derived chemical NNK in the first urine of babies born to mothers who had smoked during pregnancy. NNK is unique to tobacco and is a known carcinogen. …