Smoking is a well-known killer, with cigarette smoking being the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, resulting in 480,000 deaths annually. This equates to 1,300 deaths every day. Even if you don’t smoke, being exposed to secondhand smoke can still pose a threat to your health, especially if you live with a smoker. Now, research shows that thirdhand smoke, which is the residue left behind by tobacco smoke on surfaces, can be just as harmful.
Ashley Merianos, a tobacco researcher at the University of Cincinnati, explains that thirdhand smoke includes inhaling, ingesting, or absorbing the pollutants left behind by secondhand smoke. These residue pollutants can be found on furniture, walls, décor, and floors, and can lead to cancer and respiratory issues. Among the harmful substances found in thirdhand smoke are nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals like tobacco-specific nitrosamines.
Merianos’ study found that 50 percent of children living in homes with a smoker had NNK, a potent carcinogen found in tobacco smoke, on their home surfaces, and 70 percent had NNK present in household dust. Nicotine was also detected on surfaces and in dust in 100 percent of the children’s homes, even in households with smoking bans. The toxins were found to linger in environments for years, potentially exposing children to these harmful chemicals without their parents’ knowledge.
It was also discovered that children in lower-income households had higher levels of NNK and nicotine present on home surfaces. This research highlights the importance of not smoking inside the house to fully protect children from the dangers of toxic chemicals in cigarettes. Parents and grandparents are urged to be aware that the residue left behind by tobacco smoke can pose a serious threat to children’s health, even if smoking is restricted indoors.