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We
all
know
that
smoking
is
not
healthy
and
that
secondhand
smoke
exposure
is
also
harmful,
but
what
about
third
hand
smoke?
This
relatively
new
issue
is
described
as
the
residual
nicotine
contamination
and
other
chemicals
left
behind
from
tobacco
smoke.
Tobacco
smoke
is
composed
of
many
types
of
gases,
chemicals,
and
harmful
matter,
including
carcinogens
and
toxic
substances,
like
arsenic,
lead
and
cyanide.
Have
you
ever
walked
into
a
room,
elevator,
or
gotten
into
a
car
and
smelled
tobacco
smoke
on
someone?
If
so,
you
have
been
directly
affected
by
third
hand
smokes
deadly
toxins.
The
nicotine
reacts
to
air
(mainly
nitrous
oxide)
and
can
continue
to
be
carcinogenic
long
after
the
source
of
exposure
has
been
removed.
It
cant
really
be
cleaned
or
aired
out,
says
Nausheen
Hussain,
a
physician
at
the
Cleveland
Clinic.
This
sticky,
toxic
nicotine
matter
can
cling
to
anything
from
walls
to
ceilings.
It
lingers
in
rooms
and
vehicles,
on
furniture,
clothing,
hair,
carpets,
skin
anything
with
a
surface.
This
residue
is
thought
to
react
with
common
indoor
pollutants
to
create
a
toxic
mix.
This
mix
of
third
hand
are
touching
things
and
putting
them
in
their
mouths,
says
Shazia
Choudhry,
M.D.
Children
also
ingest
twice
the
amount
of
dust
that
adults
do.
If
you
compare
a
average
170-pound
adult
and
a
20-pound
child,
you
will
find
that
the
child
ingests
twice
the
amount
of
dust,
leaving
them
susceptible
to
20
times
the
exposure
to
third
hand
smoke
contaminants.
This
is
due
to
the
higher
respiratory
rates
of
children,
which
cause
them
to
inhale
particles
at
a
faster
rate
and
absorb
chemicals
through
their
skin,
as
seen
in
Figure
1
below.
A
study
published
in
2010
found
that
third
hand
smoke
causes
the
formation
of
many
carcinogens,
both
indoors
and
outdoors.
The
nicotine
in
tobacco
smoke
reacts
with
nitrous
acid
(common
in
indoor
air)
which
then
forms
very
hazardous
carcinogens.
Nicotine
remains
on
surfaces
for
months
to
even
years,
says
Choudhry,
so
the
carcinogens
continue
to
be
created
over
time,
and
are
then
inhaled,
absorbed
and
ingested
by
both
adults
and
children.
Nicotine
residue
cannot
be
cleaned,
so
once
a
surface
is
exposed
(unless
its
a
biological
surface
like
hair
or
skin),
its
going
to
be
tainted
for
good.
Even
skin
can
be
permanently
soiled
and
yellowed
from
nicotine
exposure
over
time,
says
Hussain.
To
emphasize
how
long
cigarette
contamination
and
residue
lingers
in
high
quantities,
check
out
Figure
2
below.
Studies
show
that
when
just
one
cigarette
was
smoked
in
a
room
with
a
closed
door,
it
took
two
hours
for
particulates
in
air
to
return
to
below
federal
air
quality
standards.
This
does
not
mean
that
contaminants
are
fully
gone,
they
have
just
subsided.
A
study
released
March
16,
2014
by
Bo
Hang,
Ph.D.,
of
the
Berkeley
Lab,
found
that
many
of
the
more
than
4,000
compounds
in
second
hand
smoke
can
linger
indoors
long
after
a
cigarette
is
put
out.
It
goes
on
to
say
that
these
substances
can
go
on
to
react
with
indoor
pollutants
such
as
ozone
and
nitrous
acid,
creating
a
brand
new
carcinogenic
compound,
NNA,
found
in
third
hand
smoke.
This
compound
when
mixed
with
air
can
damage
DNA
and
stick
to
it
in
a
way
that
could
cause
cancer,
uncontrolled
cell
growth
and
the
formation
of
cancerous
tumors.
Whats
Next?
If
you
visit
a
hospital,
go
smoke
a
cigarette,
and
then
try
and
re-enter
any
portion
that
has
children
as
patients,
you
can
now
expect
a
nurse
to
tell
you
to
go
change
your
clothes
and
wash
your
hands
and
face.
That
is
how
serious
third
hand
smoke
is
becoming,
as
more
and
more
studies
are
done
about
it.
The
best
way
to
avoid
third
hand
smoke
is
not
to
smoke
in
your
house,
car
or
any
enclosed
area.
Also,
encourage
others
to
refrain
from
smoking
indoors,
in
your
personal
space
and
especially,
around
children.
Everywhere
smoke
goes,
third
hand
smoke
will
follow.
While
you
can
clean
your
carpets,
walls
and
floors,
smoke
particles
are
normally
too
deep
to
reach.
Third
hand
smoke
has
been
detected
in
homes
that
have
been
very
thoroughly
cleaned,
years
after
the
smokers
have
moved
out.
Keep
that
in
mind
when
looking
for
a
new
home!
The
only
way
to
protect
your
children
and
other
nonsmoking
families
completely
from
the
effects
of
thirdhand
smoke
is
to
quit
completely,
says
Rabia
Jalal,
an
M.D.
who
also
has
a
masters
degree
in
public
health.
Parents,
teachers,
drivers,
landlords,
business
owners
and
many
others
need
to
be
aware
of
the
health
risks
of
exposure
to
third
hand
smoke
and
recognize
that
eliminating
smoking
is
the
only
way
to
protect
ourselves
and
our
children
against
tobacco
smoke
contamination.