Exposure to 'third-hand smoke' poses additional health risks

The study, published in ACS' journal, Environmental Science & Technology, extends the known health risks of tobacco among people who do not smoke but encounter the smoke exhaled by smokers or released by smouldering cigarette butts.

Yael Dubowski and colleagues note that third-hand smoke is a newly recognised contributor to the health risks of tobacco and indoor air pollution. Studies show that that nicotine in third-hand smoke can react with the ozone in indoor air and surfaces like clothing and furniture, to form other pollutants. Exposure to them can occur to babies crawling on the carpet, people napping on the sofa, or people eating food tainted by third-hand smoke.

In an effort to learn more about third-hand smoke, the scientists studied interactions between nicotine and indoor air on a variety of different materials, including cellulose (a component of wood furniture), cotton, and paper to simulate typical indoor surfaces. They found that nicotine interacts with ozone, in indoor air, to form potentially toxic pollutants on these surfaces. "Given the toxicity of some of the identified products and that small particles may contribute to adverse health effects, the present study indicates that exposure to [third-hand smoke] may pose additional health risks," the article notes.

Source: American Chemical Society