Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!hocda!spanky!burl!duke!unc!bch From: bch@unc.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Smoking is not "evolution in action"!!! Message-ID: <5432@unc.UUCP> Date: Thu, 23-Jun-83 12:42:31 EDT Article-I.D.: unc.5432 Posted: Thu Jun 23 12:42:31 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jun-83 19:21:06 EDT References: hogpd.78 Lines: 16 Research indicates that smoking during pregnancy is not a serious health hazard to the unborn child. Birth weights tend to be lower, but weights equalize fairly quickly afterwards. On the other hand, the single, number one cause of birth defects in this country is alcohol. Drinking while pregnant, particularly during the first trimester, is almost guaranteed to produce some form of FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.) Smoking may be a filthy, obnoxious and disgusting habit, but if we compare the amount of damage it does against the amount of damage done directly or indirectly by alcohol, it turns out to be the lesser of the two evils by a long shot. A dedicated beer drinker, Byron Howes UNC - Chapel Hill