NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A new state reports shows the percentage of women who said they smoked while pregnant has increased over the last 10 years.

Family health and state officials say it's an alarming trend that can have severe health risks for Tennessee's babies.

The Tennessee Department of Health report from January said the percentage of pregnant smokers was 16.8 in 1998. That number increased to 17.1 percent in 2002 and then to 19.2 percent in 2006, according to the most recent data available.

Officials said pregnant smokers in Tennessee are more likely to be lower-income and white.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com

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