Thirdhand smoke is thenicotineand other chemicals from cigarettes that remain on surfaces well after someone has smoked.
Some of these chemicals can also mix with commonindoor pollutantsto create toxins harmful to smokers and non-smokers alike.
Infants and small children are especially vulnerable to thirdhand smoke due to hand-to-mouth behaviors.
Megumi Kurosaki / EyeEm / Getty Images
That is why researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston coined the termthirdhand smokein 2009.
Thirdhand smoke residue accumulates and can persist for months and even years.
High humidity may reduce the risk by making the particles heavier and less likely to become off-gassed from surfaces.
Low humidity may have the opposite effect.
Among the concerns: nitrous oxide, which is created by fuel combustion and wastewater emission.
Still, any risk of thirdhand smoke only adds to the risks of secondhand smoke in smoking households.
Unlike secondhand smoke, ventilation does little to remove thirdhand smoke.
You may not even know it’s there.
Even if smoking is stopped, don’t expect the problem to spontaneously disappear.
Thirdhand smoke can even persist after a room is painted and re-carpeted.
Washing or dry cleaning alone may not cut it.
In order for a cleanser to remove nicotine, it must be acidic.
But most soaps are alkaline and fail to remove nicotine even from smooth surfaces.
The removal of thirdhand smoke from a home can be very costly.
By instating a smoking ban in the home, you could significantly reduce your exposure to thirdhand smoke.
If someone in your home does smoke, restricting smoking to outdoor spaces may not be enough.
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