What is third-hand smoking? And is there such a thing as third-hand vapor?
We’ve all heard about second-hand smoke and its dangers. And we’ve all heard about second-hand vaping and how it compares (favorably) to second-hand smoking.
But then there is third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke is basically residual nicotine and other substances that are left on surfaces or objects located in areas that have been smoked in. These can include clothing, furniture, walls, curtains, bedding, vehicles, etc. And, according to research by the National Centre for Health Research, third-hand smoke can be hazardous to people’s health. It is thought that this residue reacts with indoor pollutants and creates a toxic mix that could also contain carcinogens. In some cases, third-hand smoke can remain on surfaces and objects for months after someone has smoked a cigarette near it. The residue can potentially cause coughing, asthma and respiratory tract infections — and exposure mainly happens by skin contact.
Children are generally more at risk when it comes to third-hand smoke exposure as they have more contact with the floors, carpets, and furniture in the house and are also likely to pick up things from the floor.
Prior to the indoor smoking ban, high levels of third-hand smoke could be found in casinos, bars, and restaurants. The study mentions that one month after the smoking ban, surface nicotine in casinos decreased by 90% — but nicotine and leftover chemicals that lingered in the dust took more than three months to go away.
How does one get rid of third-hand smoke? It is believed that it is very difficult to remove third-hand residue from fabric and furniture with traditional cleaning methods. Naturally, the best way to avoid THS exposure would be to live in a smoke-free environment.
What about third-hand vapor?
We were only able to locate one study dating all the way back to 2014 conducted by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RCPI). In it, researchers studied “the extent to which e-cigarettes left a nicotine residue on indoor surfaces”: three different e-liquids brands had been vaporized inside a special room, the floors, walls, windows, wood and metal surfaces of which were later tested for nicotine levels. In three out of four experiments, the researchers found varying but significant increases in nicotine residue — however, no comparison has been made between third-hand smoking and third hand vaping. As we know, second-hand vapor has shown to contain only minimal amounts of nicotine and e-liquid flavoring and is much less dangerous than second-hand smoking. But would you worry about third-hand smoking? Or third hand vaping?
But then there is third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke is basically residual nicotine and other substances that are left on surfaces or objects located in areas that have been smoked in. These can include clothing, furniture, walls, curtains, bedding, vehicles, etc. And, according to research by the National Centre for Health Research, third-hand smoke can be hazardous to people’s health. It is thought that this residue reacts with indoor pollutants and creates a toxic mix that could also contain carcinogens. In some cases, third-hand smoke can remain on surfaces and objects for months after someone has smoked a cigarette near it. The residue can potentially cause coughing, asthma and respiratory tract infections — and exposure mainly happens by skin contact.
Children are generally more at risk when it comes to third-hand smoke exposure as they have more contact with the floors, carpets, and furniture in the house and are also likely to pick up things from the floor.
Prior to the indoor smoking ban, high levels of third-hand smoke could be found in casinos, bars, and restaurants. The study mentions that one month after the smoking ban, surface nicotine in casinos decreased by 90% — but nicotine and leftover chemicals that lingered in the dust took more than three months to go away.
How does one get rid of third-hand smoke? It is believed that it is very difficult to remove third-hand residue from fabric and furniture with traditional cleaning methods. Naturally, the best way to avoid THS exposure would be to live in a smoke-free environment.
What about third-hand vapor?
We were only able to locate one study dating all the way back to 2014 conducted by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RCPI). In it, researchers studied “the extent to which e-cigarettes left a nicotine residue on indoor surfaces”: three different e-liquids brands had been vaporized inside a special room, the floors, walls, windows, wood and metal surfaces of which were later tested for nicotine levels. In three out of four experiments, the researchers found varying but significant increases in nicotine residue — however, no comparison has been made between third-hand smoking and third hand vaping. As we know, second-hand vapor has shown to contain only minimal amounts of nicotine and e-liquid flavoring and is much less dangerous than second-hand smoking. But would you worry about third-hand smoking? Or third hand vaping?
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