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A study by researchers from Indiana University tested the association between smoking during pregnancy and mental illness in children. They found that this is one less risk to worry about.

What Did The Study Find Out?

The researchers gathered data from over 1.7 million people born in Sweden and found out that mental illness in children occurred more because of family-related factors, rather than birth-defect causing factors. The study looked into the prevalence of mental illness among the children whose mothers were smoking during pregnancy and learned that it was higher than those whose mothers did not. But when other factors like if the mother was also smoking during pregnancy with a sibling or not, the prevalence dropped, EurekAlert reported.

Smoking While Pregnant Is Not The Culprit

The analysis of the data about the rate of mental illness among siblings showed the difference was not as significant, meant that exposure to smoking during pregnancy is not a cause. Mental illness like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are more likely to be caused by genetic disposition, rather than the smoking. But the results do not mean that it becomes any safer to light up a cigarette during pregnancy, Time reported.

Smoking Still Not Recommended 

The study accidentally uncovered more evidence to corroborate previous studies about the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. Their data showed that the babies were more disposed to be delivered prematurely or have low birth weight. The carcinogens found in cigarettes have been linked to higher risks of birth defects and miscarriage.

Some studies on the effects of smoking during pregnancy have also pointed to the possibility of making their offspring more vulnerable to addictions. Even non-smoking mothers are not exempt, especially if they are more exposed to second-hand smoke.

Time and again, studies have strengthened the argument against smoking and the US government has spent billions of dollars on treating citizens from the effects of smoking. The habit has been proven to be the cause of all sorts of ailments and cancers but the addiction to it has been proving difficult to curb.