According to a study by Karin Kallen, University of Lund, Sweden, a woman who smokes during pregnancy can give birth to a child with defective limbs. Kallen studied 610 cases of limb reduction malformations among more than 1 million babies born between 1983 and 1993.

Detailed information was available on whether and how much the women smoked early in pregnancy. In the 'Journal of the American Public Health Association', where Kallens findings were reported, she writes "The present study supports a connection between maternal smoking during pregnancy and all limb reduction malformations."

(HASSELA NORDIC NETWORK - Press release February 13, 1997)