<p>In the 20th century, where tobacco smoking continues to be the leading preventable cause of death, an alarming number of people continue to smoke, despite awareness of the implications of exposure for themselves and those around them. Campaigns for the promotion of effective tobacco legislation and awareness are continuously being confronted by the tobacco industry's reluctance to put the health of their consumers before company profits, leading to a ripple effect of misinformation, serious health risks and economic implications, at least for the consumers. Pregnant women are especially a concern, because exposure to tobacco smoke affects not only the smoking mother but has serious implications for the health of her unborn child. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to nicotine during all the phases of lung development, or from the onset of the phase of rapid alveolarisation and, whether copper supplementation will prevent the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure, on lung development in the offspring.</p>

<p>In the 20th century, where tobacco smoking continues to be the leading preventable cause of death, an alarming number of people continue to smoke, despite awareness of the implications of exposure for themselves and those around them. Campaigns for the promotion of effective tobacco legislation and awareness are continuously being confronted by the tobacco industry's reluctance to put the health of their consumers before company profits, leading to a ripple effect of misinformation, serious health risks and economic implications, at least for the consumers. Pregnant women are especially a concern, because exposure to tobacco smoke affects not only the smoking mother but has serious implications for the health of her unborn child. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to nicotine during all the phases of lung development, or from the onset of the phase of rapid alveolarisation and, whether copper supplementation will prevent the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure, on lung development in the offspring.</p>

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In the 20th century, where tobacco smoking continues to be the leading preventable cause of death, an alarming number of people continue to smoke, despite awareness of the implications of exposure for themselves and those around them. Campaigns for the promotion of effective tobacco legislation and awareness are continuously being confronted by the tobacco industry's reluctance to put the health of their consumers before company profits, leading to a ripple effect of misinformation, serious health risks and economic implications, at least for the consumers. Pregnant women are especially a concern, because exposure to tobacco smoke affects not only the smoking mother but has serious implications for the health of her unborn child. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to nicotine during all the phases of lung development, or from the onset of the phase of rapid alveolarisation and, whether copper supplementation will prevent the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure, on lung development in the offspring. / South Africa