Vaping in pregnancy increases risk of having a child with behavioural issues, study finds

A pregnant woman.

Vaping in pregnancy increases the risk of having a child with behavioural problems, according to new research. Exposure to flavoured e-cig chemicals in the womb leads to hyperactive offspring, while those with nicotine cause even more dramatic changes to a growing foetus' grey matter, warn scientists. Lead author Professor Mathilakath Vijayan said: "Vape flavourants dull sensory perception and cause hyperactivity in developing zebrafish embryos."

Smoking conventional cigarettes during pregnancy has been linked to ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and autism in children. The latest findings, published in the journal Biology Letters, suggest vaping could also trigger neurological conditions. Experiments on zebrafish indicate it harms the developing structure of a baby's brain. Embryonic development is surprisingly similar in the humble marine creature. Smoke toxins can pass to a foetus and have an affect on brain chemistry, explained Prof Vijayan. He said: "Vaping during pregnancy exposes the developing baby's brain to chemicals in the vape. Our results suggest flavours have the potential to impact pre-natal brain development."