Third-Hand Smoke Health Issues: What Should You Watch Out For?

Though many are aware of the dangers of smoking, some still choose to participate in the addictive and potentially deadly habit. Worse still, for those who do not but may be near other smokers, they can still encounter significant health affects that pose significant side-effects to their health. 

A recent study examines the dangers of third-hand smoke-what's otherwise known as the second-hand smoke that gets left on the surfaces of objects with the potential to turn more toxic.

"We studied, on mice, the effects of third-hand smoke on several organ systems under conditions that simulated third-hand smoke exposure of humans," said Manuela Martins-Green, a professor of cell biology who led the study in the press release. "We found significant damage occurs in the liver and lung. Wounds in these mice took longer to heal. Further, these mice displayed hyperactivity."

Researchers discovered that when the mice were exposed to third-hand smoke, they experienced alteration to multiple organ systems that excreted levels of tobacco-specific carcinogen that were identical to those found in children exposed via second-hand smoke.

"There is a critical need for animal experiments to evaluate biological effects of exposure to third-hand smoke that will inform subsequent human epidemiological and clinical trials," Martins-Green said, via a press release. "Such studies can determine potential human health risks, design of clinical trials and potentially can contribute to policies that lead to reduction in both exposure and disease."

While first-hand smoke--that which is inhaled by the smoker--along with second-hand smoke, the inhalation of exhaled smoke, puts individuals at a greater health risk, it's important that all those who come in contact with smoke consider long-term health effects when coming into contact with cigarettes and tobacco products. 

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal PLOS ONE.