Third Hand Smoke: Second Hand Smoke's New Sidekick

Third-hand smokea new concern for an old problem! The toxic chemicals in smoke that stick around even afterthe smoker has gone home.

Third-hand smoke gets trapped in your hair, skin, fabric, carpet, furniture, and even the childrens playthings. Third-hand smoke is defined as 'residual tobacco smoke' contamination that sticks around after the cigarette is put out. This includes toxins that settle on anything and everything in the home, and remain even after a cigarette has been put out. Third-hand smoke can remain indoors even long after the smoking has stopped. Similar to low-level lead exposure, low levels of tobacco particulates has been associated with cognitive problems among children, and the higher the exposure level, the worse the problem.

Third hand smoke is niticeable, 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. Many people that don't smoke, can smell third-hand smoke, say, in a hotel room 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 settle on surfaces in the home, and remain even after a cigarette has been put out.

This is just one more reason to consider kicking that cigarette smoking addiction. When you start your "Why I want to stop smoking" add third hand smoke to your list!