There are also data available on alcohol exposure using biomarkers germane to this discussion. When alcohol is metabolized, fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) accumulate in the meconium, the first stool passed by the newborn, and this non-oxidative metabolite can be a marker of second and third trimester alcohol exposure. In assessing FAEEs in meconium from over 900 births in Uruguay, Hutson et al. (2010) found that 44% were positive for alcohol exposure above a set cutoff (>2 nmol/g), which the authors believe represents an “at risk” level of exposure. In Barcelona, Spain 45% of the meconium samples exceeded this cutoff (Garcia-Algar et al. 2008). In Grey Bruce, Canada, 17 (2.5%) of 682 meconium samples tested positive for high levels of exposure, which was 5 times greater than the number of high risk exposures detected via questionnaire (Gareri et al. 2008). In a follow-up study of “high risk” obstetrical patients, 30% tested positive for high levels of FAEEs (Goh et al. 2010). Although more research needs to be done on the usefulness of FAEEs as a biomarker for prenatal alcohol exposure
