The Effects of Smoking, Ozone Exposure and Alcohol on Pregnancy

M. L. Staicu, N. Costin, A. Mureşan, S. Tache, D. Daicoviciu

Abstract: Our study evaluated the effects on gestation, in terms of oxidative stress(OS), of three risk behaviors (smoking, ozone exposure and alcohol consumption) with the purpose of applying the results in clinical practice. Methods. In this experimental study, we determined the oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde(MDA) and carbonylated proteins(CP); and the antioxidants: the hydrogen donor capacity (DH) and the sulfhydryl groups(SH). Smoking: significant increases of MDA and CP and a significant decrease of SH(multiparous animals). Ozone: significant increases of CP and decreases of antioxidants(primiparous animals); significant increases of MDA and decreases of DH(multiparous). Alcohol: significantly increases the OS markers and decreases the DH(primiparous animals). Smoking, ozone or alcohol associated with pregnancy (primiparous and multiparous) has a combined effect of increasing the oxidative stress and decreasing the antioxidant capacity. Because the results regarding O3 exposure haven’t been communicated by other authors, we suggest further research on this subject.
Keywords: pregnancy, oxidative stress, risk behaviors, alcohol, ozone, smoking