Researchers Cite Dangers of Thirdhand Smoke

Many Americans are well-versed in the dangers of cigarettes and the dangers they pose to one's well-being and even the cost of their life and health insurance policies.

People who smoke can generally expect to pay more on their life insurance policies, and will also be more likely to face greater medical costs in general over time and shortened life spans. Secondhand smoke has been found to offer its own considerable dangers to people.

However, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are now warning of the dangers of "thirdhand" smoke, which is the chemical residue left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke. A recent announcement indicated that the nicotine vapor can linger on furniture, carpets, walls and other surfaces for months, interacting with ambient nitrous acid to form cancer-causing materials.

"Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker's skin and clothing. Those residues follow a smoker back inside and get spread everywhere. The biggest risk is to young children," said Lara Gundel, a chemist at the Berkeley Lab.

The report warned that thirdhand smoke is especially dangerous to infants and toddlers because it is absorbed through contact of the skin on carpets and clothing.

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