Secondhand Smoke: Understanding its Nature, Impact on Health, and Additional Facts
Thirdhand Smoke: A Persistent Health Hazard for Adults, Children, and Pregnant Individuals
Thirdhand smoke (THS), the residue of nicotine and other chemicals from tobacco smoke that can absorb into indoor surfaces, poses serious long-term health risks for adults, children, and pregnant individuals. This toxic residue can remain on surfaces for weeks, months, or even years, and traditional cleaning methods may not be effective in removing it completely.
Health Risks for Adults
For adults, THS exposure can lead to a variety of health problems. It can damage DNA, potentially causing cancer, including lung cancer. The harmful chemicals in THS may also lead to an increased risk of heart disease and damage blood vessels. THS can form new toxic compounds by reacting with environmental pollutants, causing respiratory problems and worsening chronic diseases such as asthma or COPD.
Health Risks for Children
Children, who are particularly vulnerable due to their developing lungs and immune systems, are at a higher risk from THS. Exposure can increase the risk of asthma attacks, bronchitis, pneumonia, middle ear infections, and slower lung growth. Children exposed in utero or after birth have higher risks for low birth weight, preterm delivery, developmental problems, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Residual toxins can irritate organs like the lungs, liver, and skin, causing inflammation and impairing cell function.
Health Risks for Pregnant Individuals
Although data is more limited, THS exposure during pregnancy is associated with risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight due to nicotine and other toxic chemicals crossing the placenta or affecting fetal development. It can also potentially increase the transfer of harmful substances through breast milk, which contains nicotine and toxic chemicals such as arsenic, cyanide, formaldehyde, and lead if the mother smokes.
Preventing THS Exposure
The only way to prevent THS exposure is to keep indoor spaces completely smoke-free. Pregnant people who live with someone who smokes should encourage them to quit as soon as possible. Exposure to THS may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome in adults, increasing their likelihood of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, obesity, and stroke. Children are more vulnerable to THS because they often touch surfaces and objects with their hands or mouths.
Healthcare professionals can recommend support groups, nicotine replacement therapies, and other strategies to help a person quit smoking. If a person is experiencing any new health problems, such as coughing or difficulty breathing, after exposure to tobacco smoke, they should contact a doctor. THS may cause problems with wound healing in adults and exposure during pregnancy can negatively affect a person's quality of life.
The American Lung Association advises that smoking next to an open window does not prevent THS. THS residue can build up on furniture, clothes, carpets, bedsheets, car dashboards, toys, and skin. It can re-emit back into the air and react with other chemicals, forming new harmful chemicals. In summary, thirdhand smoke is a chronic environmental hazard that increases cancer risk, damages respiratory and cardiovascular systems in adults, harms developing lungs and immune systems in children, and poses significant risks during pregnancy and breastfeeding, emphasizing the importance of smoke-free environments and remediation of contaminated spaces.
