ELIMINATING smoking at home reduces the risk of SIDS by 80 per cent.

Research from the University of Sydney has proven a link between noxious fumes and sudden infant death syndrome, which claims the life of one baby a week in NSW.

It found nicotine, the main neurotoxin found in cigarette smoke, increased the risk of SIDS by damaging brainstem cells receptive to the drug.

The results, published in the journal of Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, followed up on the research team's previous 2007 study of babies who died of SIDS that proved any smoke exposure contributed to brain cell death.

Of the 67 babies who died of SIDS in the research group, 81 per cent were exposed to cigarette smoke.

International studies have shown the babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy have a five-fold increase in the risk of SIDS, while babies born into a home where there is a smoker have a three-fold risk.

"We found any smoke exposure in the home resulted in a greater number of cells dying in the brain stem which controls heart rate, respiration and sleep and arousal," researcher Dr Rita Machaalani said.

"I don't know how tobacco companies sleep straight in bed," Ros Richardson, from SIDS and Kids NSW, said.

The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome has decreased by 85 per cent in the past 25 years due to safe sleep education programs that recommend babies be placed on their backs to sleep. An average of 50 babies die in NSW each year from SIDS.

Almost one in five women still smoke in pregnancy, including 42 per cent of teenagers and 52 per cent of indigenous women.

"The most outstanding risk factor is tobacco smoke and it's one of the hardest ones to shake," Ms Richardson said.

"Smoking in pregnancy is also associated with a higher risk of stillbirth and pre-term birth and neonatal loss."

ON May 15, SIDS and Kids will celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day and raising awareness to save the lives of babies with a Silver Jubilee Ball to be held at Doltone House, Darling Harbour.



The Sunday Telegraph's Jane Hansen will host the event and our popular columnist Mia Freedman will be guest speaker.



Both have first-hand experience of the tragic loss of a baby.