Third Hand Smoke: A Hidden Problem
Third-hand smokeis a new name for an old problem! The toxic chemicals in smoke that stick around even afterthe smoker has put out the cigarette.
Third-hand smoke gets trapped in your hair, skin, fabric, carpet, furniture, and even the kids toys. Third-hand smoke is defined as ‘residual tobacco smoke’ contamination that remains after the cigarette is put out. This includes toxins that settle on anything and everything in the home, and remain long after a cigarette has been put out. Third-hand smoke can remain indoors even way after the smoking has stopped. Similar to low-level lead exposure, low levels of tobacco particulate matter has been associated with cognitive deficits among kids, and the higher the exposure level, the bigger the problem.
Third hand smoke is noticeable, and your nose tells you exactly why. The nose is the best tool to figure out if something is bad for your body, and it has been proven that the smell of smoke can cause asthma attacks, what more information do you need? Third hand smoke is the toxic chemicals left on clothing and in you hair that lingers long after you’ve smoked a cigarette. So even if you don’t smoke around your child, it’s still dangerous to children, giving us yet another reason to discourage smoking.
Third-hand smoke may be concealed but it really stinks, because it’s toxic. Most smokers can’t smell it. It lingers on clothes worn by smokers and in rooms, cars and everywhere a smoker has smoked. Third-hand smoke was described in a new study, published in the latest issue of “Pediatrics,” that focused on the risks of these chemicals on young children. A lot of people that don’t smoke, can smell third-hand smoke in your house or cab after smokers have left. Third-hand smoke was defined as “residual tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette is extinguished”. This includes toxins that drift and land on everything in your home, and remain even after a cigarette has been put out.
This is just one more reason to consider kicking that cigarette smoking addiction. If your ready to start building a “Why I want to quit smoking list” be sure to add third-hand smoke to it!