Thirdhand Smoke Poses Significant Health Risks to Nonsmokers

While tobacco smoking is largely accepted as a significant source of primary indoor air pollutants, it is only recently that thirdhand smoke -- the invisible remains of cigarette smoke that deposit on carpeting, clothing, furniture and other surfaces – has become  recognized as a contributor to indoor pollution.  . Previous studies have shown that that nicotine in thirdhand smoke can react with the ozone in indoor air and surfaces like clothing and furniture, to form other pollutants. Exposure to these pollutants can occur to babies crawling on the carpet, people napping on the sofa, or people eating food tainted by thirdhand smoke. Yael Dubowski, from Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (Israel), and colleagues studied interactions between nicotine and indoor air on a variety of different materials, including cellulose (a component of wood furniture), cotton, and paper to simulate typical indoor surfaces. The team found that nicotine interacts with ozone, in indoor air, to form potentially toxic pollutants on these surfaces. The researchers urge that: “Given the toxicity of some of the identified products and that small particles may contribute to adverse health effects, the present study indicates that exposure to [thirdhand smoke] ozonation products may pose additional health risks.”