Third Hand Smoke is an Unappreciated Health Hazard – New Study Reports…
February 9, 2010 by Dr. Joyce Starr
Filed under Third-Hand Smoke Risks
Berkeley scientists warn that third-hand smoke is an unappreciated health hazard and suggest a complete ban on smoking in homes and vehicles. The researchers found substantial levels of toxins on smoke-exposed materials. They conclude that nicotine stains on clothing, furniture and wallpaper can react with a common indoor pollutant to generate dangerous chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs.
While banishing smokers to outdoors cuts second-hand smoke, residues will follows the smoker back inside.
CLICK HERE to protect yourself and your family from second-hand and third-hand smoke exposure.
In the tests, contaminated surface exposed to “high but reasonable” amounts of the pollutant nitrous acid – emitted by unvented gas appliances and in car exhaust – boosted levels of newly formed TSNAs 10-fold…
Toxic particles from cigarette smoke can linger on surfaces long after the cigarette has been put out, and small children are particularly susceptible because they are likely to breathe in close proximity, or even lick and suck them, they say.
Researcher Lara Gundel, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, said: “Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker’s skin and clothing.
“ The most important step parents can take to protect their families from the dangers of cigarette smoke is to make their homes and cars smokefree ” ~ Ed Young of Cancer Research UK
“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.”
They are now doing more research to better understand what threat, if any, TSNAs pose.
Amanda Sandford of Action on Smoking and Health said: “The harmful effects of second-hand smoke are already well-established but this study adds a new dimension to the dangers associated with smoking and provides further evidence of the need to protect children, in particular, from exposure to tobacco smoke.
“The study shows that the residue of smoke on surfaces represents a potential risk for cancer but so far we don’t know how big at risk.”
Ed Young of Cancer Research UK said: “This is an interesting piece of research that adds the possibility of an extra level of harm from tobacco smoke.
“There is clear evidence about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke to children, especially in homes and cars.
“The most important step parents can take to protect their families from the dangers of cigarette smoke is to make their homes and cars smokefree.”
CLICK HERE to protect yourself and your family from second-hand and third-hand smoke exposure.
