Dr. Virender Rehan and a team of collaborators recently published a landmark study using laboratory rats, showing that the risk of asthma is not only limited to the children of women who smoke but also passes to grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
The NICHD interviewed Dr. Rehan about the discovery as part of their series of conversations they do with NICHD scientists and grantees.
“…a large body of evidence suggests that nicotine might be a key ingredient in cigarette smoke that accounts for childhood asthma following smoke exposure during pregnancy. Supporting this, there is strong experimental and clinical evidence showing that, on exposure of the developing fetus, nicotine crosses the human placenta with minimal biotransformation.”
For a full transcript of the interview, visit the NIH website.
Click here for an audio version of the interview.