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We can now add 'third hand smoke' to the reasons smoking is dreadful for our health

Third hand smoke (THS) refers to the sticky residue from tobacco smoke that clings to walls and furniture.

shutterstock_542478556 Shutterstock / DrPilulkin Shutterstock / DrPilulkin / DrPilulkin

THE FIRST SOLID evidence that smoking causes cancer came in the 1950s, followed decades later by revelations that “second-hand” smoke also harms health.

Scientists have now issued a warning about what they call “third-hand” smoke (THS) – the sticky residue from tobacco smoke that clings to walls and furniture.

In mice, at least, exposure to these toxic leftovers causes lower infant weight and alters counts of blood cells associated with the body’s immune system, according to a report in nature journal Scientific Reports.

“Evidence is mounting that the residue lingering on indoor surfaces could be just as harmful – if not more – than second-hand smoke,” said the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which took part in the study.

Researchers from the United States and China tested the biological response of mice to THS in lab conditions designed to mimic exposure in a smokers’ home.

Based on what they found, there could be reason to fear for the safety of infants who can pick up toxins from floors and carpets they lie or crawl on, and walls, curtains and furniture they touch, the team said.

“Small children are a particularly vulnerable population who are exposed to THS toxicants through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact,” they wrote.

Previous research had shown that THS toxins causes DNA damage to human cells in petri dishes, and harmed sperm and the organs of lab mice.

An earlier study of THS toxins in house samples warned of a potential cancer risk to children.

Chemical transformations

But it was not known how THS exposure would affect infant health.

For the new study, the team investigated the effects of THS exposure on the body weight and immune system of mice in two life stages: from birth to weaning (neonatal), and early adulthood.

THS-exposed cloth was placed in the cages of test mice for three weeks.

The cotton cloth had been exposed to cigarette smoke in a stainless steel chamber, the equivalent of about 400-700 cigarettes smoked over more than three years.

A group of ‘control’ mice, had normal, THS-free fabric in their cages.

When weaned at the age of three weeks, the THS-exposed mice had “significantly lower bodyweight” than the control group, the scientists found.

With no further exposure, they gained significantly more weight, catching up to the control mice by the age of five weeks.

THS had no influence on weight when mice were exposed to it as adults. But it did alter blood cell counts associated with inflammatory and allergic reactions.

The team said THS toxins may stick to surfaces for weeks to months, during which time chemical mutations may render them even more harmful.

THS may therefore contain toxins similar to first- or second-hand smoking, as well as “new toxic compounds generated from chemical transformations”, the authors said.

Our findings provide further evidence that THS exposure can have biological effects and supports non-smoking policies as the best way to protect non-smokers from the health effects of tobacco-smoke exposure.

© – AFP, 2017

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    Mute David Clarke
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    Feb 4th 2017, 7:11 AM

    Right if I hold my breath, time my toast, and use a roll on I might survive long enough to make it to my car.

    59
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    Mute William Boyd
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    Feb 4th 2017, 7:43 AM

    @David Clarke: Probably better off walking to work inside a chemical hazard suit because of the carbon monoxide residue from your exhaust on your car interior, and no crispy rashers between your toast red meat gives you cancer too, in fact why not just stop living altogether?.

    48
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    Mute Mark Jones
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:37 AM

    I know people who have smoked 40 to 60 cigarettes all their lives who are in their 70′s,80,s and I know people who never smoked and died from lung cancer.

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    Mute Ciaran De Bhal
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:45 AM

    But just think. Meant they smoked they’d be 90 – 100 years old by now ..

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    Mute Red hurley
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:49 AM

    @David Clarke: life is a b i t c h isn’t it.

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    Mute Paddy Byrne
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:52 AM

    It doesnt make sense to me how smoking is not considered an illegal drug when you think of the other banned drugs. Its just as harmful to peoples health as other drugs. But the government dont care. Generates way too much revenue for them.

    34
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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Feb 4th 2017, 10:36 AM

    Yes. It’s a golden tit as regards revenue. Same as drink.

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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    Feb 4th 2017, 9:36 AM

    The world had gone mad. Walking through a city with all the car fumes is worse than 2nd hand smoking but it’s an ‘acceptable risk’.

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
    Favourite Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 4th 2017, 12:43 PM

    Not acceptable to me but people in Ireland always look at me funny when I cycle with my air filtration mask , in the UK nobody bats an eyelid because they understand how bad their air quality is

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Feb 4th 2017, 7:57 AM

    I’d say using public bathrooms is more of a health hazard. Just ban everything.

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    Mute Brendan Mason
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:32 AM

    Get a job in a clean room 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If all these allegations were true we should be all dead by now. More fake news.

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 4th 2017, 12:45 PM

    Nowhere in the article does it suggest death , how about the alternative facts people read articles in full before attacking them?

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    Mute dotty
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:32 AM

    I likes Armadillos

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    Mute Link
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    Feb 4th 2017, 5:29 PM

    Crunchy on the outside, smooth on the inside! Armadillos!

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    Mute Louise Ní Riain
    Favourite Louise Ní Riain
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    Feb 4th 2017, 10:31 AM

    Here we go with the tabacco police.

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    Mute martin f ryan
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    Feb 4th 2017, 12:53 PM

    We do need our immune system to work & fight off disease,when I was young the shopkeeper cut a 6penny ice cream with the same knife that he cut raw bacon with the meat bits were still stuck to the blade, he did not wash the knife because there was no running water at that time you would get a bucket once a week from the river or well and everything was washed in that.we ate the ice cream and it was lovely,our immune system was so high nothing happened & nobody had to go to the doctor. Now days there’s too much 2nd & 3d hand this & that, it’s no wonder you can’t get into see doctor now days,there’s too many there & noting wrong with them,there listening to too much scaremongering like this,

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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Feb 4th 2017, 8:51 AM

    Poor mice.

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    Mute Tom Gleeson
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    Feb 5th 2017, 9:14 AM

    Junk science. Mice studies seldom if ever transfer to humans. Their is a story here but it’s how funding for study’s like this get granted. Their is no third hand smoke risk, at all, none. This is an exercise in propaganda. Shame on the journal for giving it publicity.

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    Mute Aidan O connor
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    Feb 5th 2017, 8:51 AM

    Smoking at bus settlers should be stop. If you are a smoker should be pay extra for health care.

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    Mute Tom Gleeson
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    Feb 5th 2017, 9:15 AM

    @Aidan O connor: You do, it called duty!

    3
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