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Third-hand smoke bad for health

We know that smoking is bad. We also know that inhaling someone else's smoke is bad. Now, according to recent research third-hand smoke - tobacco residue clinging to surfaces - is also bad.

Third-hand smoke bad for health

We know that smoking is bad. We also know that inhaling someone else's smoke is bad. According to recent research third-hand smoke - tobacco residue clinging to surfaces - is also bad for us.

When a cigarette burns, nicotine is released in the form of a vapour that collects and condenses on indoor surfaces such as walls, carpeting, drapes and furniture, where it can linger for months. When this residual nicotine reacts with ambient nitrous acid it forms carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs.

TSNAs are among the most broadly acting and potent carcinogens present in unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke. The most likely human exposure to TSNAs is through either inhalation of dust or the contact of skin with carpet or clothes - making third-hand smoke particularly dangerous to infants and toddlers.

According to researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, opening a window or turning on a fan to air out a room while a cigarette burns does not eliminate the hazard of third-hand smoke. Smoking outdoors doesn't help much either. Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues tend to stick to a smoker's skin and clothing. Those residues follow a smoker back inside and get spread everywhere.

The biggest risk is to young children. Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child's skin is likely to occur when the smoker returns and if nitrous acid is in the air, which it usually is, then TSNAs will be formed. Substantial levels of TSNAs are also found in the truck of a heavy smoker adding that most vehicle engines emit some nitrous acid that can infiltrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

The researchers concluded that third-hand smoke is an unappreciated health hazard and therefore suggest a complete ban on smoking in homes and in vehicles to eliminate any risk.
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