Active and passive smoking is a health risk and its toxicity during pregnancy is well known; nevertheless, in France, nearly 30% of pregnant women smoke. The aim of this study is to describe the toxic effects of smoking during pregnancy by a review of the international literature. At the outcome of this study, it appears that besides the well known effects of smoking on pregnancy, foetal development and state of health of the mother and child, other effects may be encountered such as neuropsychiatric, infections, endocrine, metabolic and cardiorespiratory events. While complementary studies are necessary to define the nature of the relationship between the observed effects and smoking, this study underlines the fact that the reduction of prevalence of smoking in pregnant women is a major health issue.