For pregnant women trying to quit smoking, many have turned to vaping as an alternative. But just how much safer is vaping during pregnancy? A new UK-led study offers some of the clearest answers to date—though it also comes with caution.
In a study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, scientists from City St George’s, University of London, and several global partners compared the levels of toxic chemical exposure among pregnant women who vape versus those who smoke.
Quitting smoking during pregnancy is important for the health of both mother and baby. But up until now, little was known about how vaping stacks up when it comes to exposure to harmful substances.
To address this gap, researchers recruited 140 pregnant women from five hospitals in the UK. The women fell into five groups: exclusive smokers, exclusive vapers (who previously smoked), dual users (both smoking and vaping), smokers using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and those who never used nicotine or tobacco.
Urine samples were collected during routine prenatal visits and tested for nicotine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—a group of chemicals linked to cancer and heart and lung disease.
The results? Women who exclusively vaped showed 44% to 97% lower levels of 10 VOCs compared to those who only smoked. Interestingly, in some cases, VOC levels among exclusive vapers were similar to those who had never used tobacco or nicotine products.
While that may sound encouraging, the lead researcher, Professor Michael Ussher, cautions that this does not make vaping during pregnancy safe.
“Just because mothers-to-be are exposed to fewer harmful chemicals by opting to vape instead of smoking cigarettes does not mean vaping during pregnancy is safe,” Ussher said. “We’re now embarking on the most rigorously designed study to date to look at whether vaping during pregnancy has any harmful health outcomes for mother or baby.”
It’s also worth noting that vaping liquids and devices constantly evolve, meaning new chemicals could emerge that haven’t yet been studied. Some toxic substances may also be shared between smoking and vaping.
“This is an ever-evolving field of research,” Ussher added. “We need to keep an eye on new toxins that might appear.”
The study was a collaboration between City St George’s, University of Nottingham, University College London, Kings College London, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the UK Health Security Agency.
For now, while vaping may reduce exposure to some harmful chemicals, it remains a less-than-ideal choice during pregnancy. The safest route remains avoiding both smoking and vaping altogether while expecting.
More Pregnancy News:
- Teens Exposed to Forever Chemicals in the Womb Face Higher Blood Pressure Risks
- New Research Links Daily Antibiotic Use to Fewer Preterm Births
- Why More Women Are Getting Pregnant on Ozempic
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