Third-hand smoke
Encyclopedia
Third-hand smoke is contamination by tobacco smoke
that lingers following the extinguishing of a cigarette
.
of the phrase passive smoking
. The term "first-hand smoke" refers to what is inhaled into the smoker's own lungs, while "second-hand smoke" is what is exhaled or leaves the smoldering end of the cigarette and enters the atmosphere and can be inhaled by others. Third-hand smoke is the contamination of the surfaces of objects that remains after the second-hand smoke has cleared.
journal found that the residue of the nicotine coating interior car or room surfaces can react with nitrous acid
present in the air to create tobacco-specific nitrosamines
, carcinogen
s found in tobacco products. This was demonstrated by spraying a "high but reasonable" level of nitrous acid (about 4-12 times the levels typically found in homes) onto cellulose substrates used to wipe the interior of a vehicle that had been heavily smoked in over time. Similar results were found when cellulose substrates were kept (without wiping) in the same vehicle for three days when smoking occurred. Ensuring ventilation while a cigarette is smoked does not eliminate the deposition of third-hand smoke in an enclosed space, according to the study's authors. The study found that eleven carcinogen
ic compounds could be found in third-hand smoke, including the radioactive element polonium-210
. Third-hand smoke is thought to potentially cause the greatest harm to infants and young children, because younger children are more likely to crawl on the floor and eat from their hands without washing them first, ingesting the toxins into their systems. Currently, however, the actual magnitude of risk, if any, remains unknown.
Several United States courts have recognised the theoretical dangers of third-hand smoke, especially in situations where infants, small children and gestating fetuses are involved. In one case, McCormick v. Moran, heard in the New York City Civil Court
in 1999, the defendant refused to refund a security deposit for an apartment on the basis that significant cleaning was required to remove tobacco smoke residue ('third-hand smoke'). The court rejected the plaintiff's argument that the extensive cleaning was not necessary and found that the residue created "an offensive odor and a potential health risk that may arise to others who may use the premises." In another example, the anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health
demanded that a smoking coworker of a pregnant employee of Lamar University
or the employee herself be transferred to another office within the University after a doctor advised the employee that the third-hand smoke was putatively causing the employee (through an alleged tobacco smoke allergy) and the employee's unborn baby health problems.
In October 2011, it was reported that Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana
would ban third hand smoke beginning in July 2012, and that employees whose clothing smelled like smoke would not be allowed to work. The ban was enacted because third hand smoke poses a special danger for the developing brains of infants and small children.
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
that lingers following the extinguishing of a cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
.
Etymology
The term "third-hand smoke" is a neologism coined by a research team from the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. The 'third-hand' component of the term is a reference to "second-hand smoke", almost a synonymSynonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
of the phrase passive smoking
Passive smoking
Passive smoking is the inhalation of smoke, called secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke , from tobacco products used by others. It occurs when tobacco smoke permeates any environment, causing its inhalation by people within that environment. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke causes...
. The term "first-hand smoke" refers to what is inhaled into the smoker's own lungs, while "second-hand smoke" is what is exhaled or leaves the smoldering end of the cigarette and enters the atmosphere and can be inhaled by others. Third-hand smoke is the contamination of the surfaces of objects that remains after the second-hand smoke has cleared.
Potential harm
Although "second-hand smoke" dissipates from a room or confined space after a short period of time, nicotine and other components of the smoke tend to coat a space's surfaces and continue to emit toxins. A 2010 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences...
journal found that the residue of the nicotine coating interior car or room surfaces can react with nitrous acid
Nitrous acid
Nitrous acid is a weak and monobasic acid known only in solution and in the form of nitrite salts.Nitrous acid is used to make diazides from amines; this occurs by nucleophilic attack of the amine onto the nitrite, reprotonation by the surrounding solvent, and double-elimination of water...
present in the air to create tobacco-specific nitrosamines
Tobacco-specific nitrosamines
Tobacco-specific nitrosamines comprise one of the most important groups of carcinogens in tobacco products, particularly cigarettes and American style dipping snuff.-Background:...
, carcinogen
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
s found in tobacco products. This was demonstrated by spraying a "high but reasonable" level of nitrous acid (about 4-12 times the levels typically found in homes) onto cellulose substrates used to wipe the interior of a vehicle that had been heavily smoked in over time. Similar results were found when cellulose substrates were kept (without wiping) in the same vehicle for three days when smoking occurred. Ensuring ventilation while a cigarette is smoked does not eliminate the deposition of third-hand smoke in an enclosed space, according to the study's authors. The study found that eleven carcinogen
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
ic compounds could be found in third-hand smoke, including the radioactive element polonium-210
Polonium
Polonium is a chemical element with the symbol Po and atomic number 84, discovered in 1898 by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie. A rare and highly radioactive element, polonium is chemically similar to bismuth and tellurium, and it occurs in uranium ores. Polonium has been studied for...
. Third-hand smoke is thought to potentially cause the greatest harm to infants and young children, because younger children are more likely to crawl on the floor and eat from their hands without washing them first, ingesting the toxins into their systems. Currently, however, the actual magnitude of risk, if any, remains unknown.
Public awareness and implications
Third-hand smoke is a relatively newly-discovered concept, and public awareness of it is lower than that of second-hand smoke. While a survey of 1,500 United States residents conducted over the telephone in 2005 found that the vast majority of both smokers and non-smokers recognised the dangers of passive smoking to non-smokers, 65 percent of non-smokers and 43 percent of smokers recognised the potential risks of third-hand smoke.Several United States courts have recognised the theoretical dangers of third-hand smoke, especially in situations where infants, small children and gestating fetuses are involved. In one case, McCormick v. Moran, heard in the New York City Civil Court
New York City Civil Court
The New York City Civil Court is a court hearing civil cases within New York City. By volume, it is the largest civil jurisdiction court in the United States, and handles about 25% of the total filings of the entire New York state court system.-Jurisdiction:...
in 1999, the defendant refused to refund a security deposit for an apartment on the basis that significant cleaning was required to remove tobacco smoke residue ('third-hand smoke'). The court rejected the plaintiff's argument that the extensive cleaning was not necessary and found that the residue created "an offensive odor and a potential health risk that may arise to others who may use the premises." In another example, the anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health is the name of a number of autonomous pressure groups/charities throughout the world which seek to publicize the risks associated with tobacco smoking and campaigns for greater restrictions on cigarette and tobacco sales....
demanded that a smoking coworker of a pregnant employee of Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
or the employee herself be transferred to another office within the University after a doctor advised the employee that the third-hand smoke was putatively causing the employee (through an alleged tobacco smoke allergy) and the employee's unborn baby health problems.
In October 2011, it was reported that Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
would ban third hand smoke beginning in July 2012, and that employees whose clothing smelled like smoke would not be allowed to work. The ban was enacted because third hand smoke poses a special danger for the developing brains of infants and small children.