Third-hand smoke. What do you know about it? Never heard of it? Join the club.
The journal, Tobacco Control, defines it as the "nicotine and chemical residue left behind from cigarette and cigar smoke that can cling to skin, hair, clothes, rugs and walls. This thin film can be picked up by touch or released back into the air when disturbed." Disgusting.
The journal, Tobacco Control, defines it as the "nicotine and chemical residue left behind from cigarette and cigar smoke that can cling to skin, hair, clothes, rugs and walls. This thin film can be picked up by touch or released back into the air when disturbed." Disgusting.
The researchers who came up with this concept studied 25 kids who came to an emergency room with breathing problems associated with secondhand smoke.
They discovered that the average amount of nicotine on the kid's hands was MORE THAN 3 TIMES GREATER than the nicotine found on the hands of adults who didn't smoke, but who lived with smokers.
It was determined that the level of "nicotine on the skin of a nonsmoker is a good proxy to measure exposure to thirdhand smoke".
They discovered that the average amount of nicotine on the kid's hands was MORE THAN 3 TIMES GREATER than the nicotine found on the hands of adults who didn't smoke, but who lived with smokers.
It was determined that the level of "nicotine on the skin of a nonsmoker is a good proxy to measure exposure to thirdhand smoke".
Nicotine is specific to tobacco. When nicotine is present on kids' hands, it means that there is tobacco smoke pollution in their environment.
ALL BUT ONE of the kids had detectable levels of cotinine in their saliva. Cotinine is a biological marker for nicotine exposure. Parents of every kid in the study smoked. [The kids did not smoke.]
ALL BUT ONE of the kids had detectable levels of cotinine in their saliva. Cotinine is a biological marker for nicotine exposure. Parents of every kid in the study smoked. [The kids did not smoke.]
Kids are at higher risk for developing health problems from thirdhand smoke than adults. Infants, of course, spend a great deal of time indoors and they're surrounded by contaminated objects like rugs, blankets, pillows, toys that end up in their mouths. Their hands are in their mouths a great deal of the time. They ingest the toxic residue.
For FIVE YEARS, thirdhand smoke can linger in an area long after the cigarette or cigar is snuffed out.
The smoke doesn't go up in the air and disappear. The residue lands on anything in its way. That means everything in your home. The floors, furniture, pets, toys, books, dishes, clothes...everything.
The smoke doesn't go up in the air and disappear. The residue lands on anything in its way. That means everything in your home. The floors, furniture, pets, toys, books, dishes, clothes...everything.
Although secondhand smoke effects have been studied for many years and its impact has been documented, the study of thirdhand smoke has been studied for a decade. While secondhand smoke has killed at least 2.5 million people since 1964, we just don't know the long-term effects of thirdhand smoke. It can't be good.
What we do know is that, in mice, thirdhand smoke harmed their livers, lungs and healing abilities. A related study done in 2010, showed that gas from leaky stoves, nitrous acid, when exposed to thirdhand smoke residue, can form cancer-causing chemicals which damage DNA. So, this is an additional risk.
What we do know is that, in mice, thirdhand smoke harmed their livers, lungs and healing abilities. A related study done in 2010, showed that gas from leaky stoves, nitrous acid, when exposed to thirdhand smoke residue, can form cancer-causing chemicals which damage DNA. So, this is an additional risk.
Removing the thirdhand smoke residue is not an easy task.
"The variety of compounds that make up cigarette residue react to cleaning products differently." This makes it difficult to clean an environment.
No wonder hotels and car rental agencies have specific units and vehicles that are designated as "non-smoking". Many of us can tell when those rules have been violated and now, we know why. It's that residue!!
"The variety of compounds that make up cigarette residue react to cleaning products differently." This makes it difficult to clean an environment.
No wonder hotels and car rental agencies have specific units and vehicles that are designated as "non-smoking". Many of us can tell when those rules have been violated and now, we know why. It's that residue!!
Stop smoking. You can't live with the consequences of your kids "coming down with something" at any stage of their lives. You'll always ask yourself if it was the secondhand or thirdhand smoke that contributed to their problems. You just can't live with that...
And, whatever you do, don't "transition" to vaping. That's another trap. It's likely to be worse than smoking cigarettes. See your doctor for medical intervention.
Just do the best you can,
TTFN, Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch
And, whatever you do, don't "transition" to vaping. That's another trap. It's likely to be worse than smoking cigarettes. See your doctor for medical intervention.
Just do the best you can,
TTFN, Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch
