What

A news briefing will be held on a first-ever study showing direct evidence that a pregnant women who smoke can transmit the cancer-causing substance, NNK, to the child in the womb. The study found by-products of the nicotine-derived chemical, NNK, in the first urine of babies born to smoking mothers. NNK is unique to tobacco and is one of the strongest carcinogens in tobacco smoke. Approximately 61 percent of smoking women who become pregnant don't quit. This research will be presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, in Boston, August 24-27. It is one of 6,700 papers presented during the four4-day meeting.

Who

Stephen S. Hecht, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota Cancer Center

When

Sunday, August 23, 4 p.m.

Where

Sheraton Boston Hotel, Beacon A

Note

Information from the speaker is for release immediately following the briefing.

For Further Information Contact:

Randy Atkins, (202) 872-4097
August 24-27: Boston Press Room
(617) 351-6808 (phone); (617) 351-6820 (fax)

Inside Science TV News
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998
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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1998
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A nonprofit organization with a membership of more than 155,000 chemists and chemical engineers as its members, the American Chemical Society publishes scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences, and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.