Seminar Summary-Extra Credit for Lab



Figure 1: 4-aminobiphenyl structure. 4-aminobiphenyl is found in
tobacco smoke and hair dye, this compound is a known bladder carcinogen.

Dr. Steven Myers visited Campbellsville University on April 15, 2011, and presented a seminar concerning tobacco smoking during pregnancy. The risks of a pregnant woman smoking are miscarriage, stillborn, premature, low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and the baby is deprived food and oxygen. Secondhand smoke can cause children less than five years of age to have asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and croup. Tobacco is composed of over 4,000 chemicals that are known to cause cancer and diseases. The diseases range from cardiovascular to cerebrovascular to pediatric. Tobacco smoking during pregnancy can also cause placental abruption which is when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and the baby is denied all oxygen.

During the first two weeks of pregnancy, smoking side effects are not noticed. During weeks 3-8 of pregnancy, all of the fetal organs are developing and the effects of smoking on the baby are harsh. The baby receives less nutrition, and may be premature (reason for premature births is unknown but can be linked to smoking).  Babies do not have the protection to rid chemicals from smoking until two years after life.

A biomarker is molecular, biochemical or cellular alterations that are measurable in biological media, such as human tissue cells or fluid. During the research of effects of smoking during pregnancy, Dr. Steven Myers and his team used amniotic fluid as a biomarker. Amniotic fluid is fetal urine and can be processed to evaluate what chemicals the baby is being exposed to.