What is secondhand and thirdhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning ends of tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars or pipes along with the smoke exhaled by the user to bystanders involuntarily. When you breathe in secondhand smoke, you take in the nicotine and toxic chemicals the same way that people who smoke do. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Research has shown that even brief exposure can cause immediate harm. Secondhand smoke exposure has caused an estimated 41,000 deaths each year in the U.S. among adults who do not smoke. Research has also discovered that the vapor products such as e-cigarettes have secondhand emissions known as an aerosol that can be exhaled from the device can contain potentially harmful substances breathed in by the user and bystander.
Thirdhand smoke consists of tobacco residue from cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products that are left behind after smoking. This residue is made up of chemicals such as nicotine and other cancer-causing substances that cling to walls, floors, and ceilings and are absorbed into soft surfaces such as carpets, draperies, bedding, clothes and other surfaces.
The residue also settles as dust-like particles on hard surfaces. When thirdhand smoke particles are resuspended into the air after contaminated surfaces are disturbed, they are inhaled, absorbed or ingested. These harmful substances remain at high levels long after smoking has stopped. Research shows that as thirdhand smoke ages, it becomes more toxic.
Who is exposed?
Most adults and children are exposed to secondhand smoke in common places. The home is the primary location of exposure especially if they live in multi-unit housing like an apartment building or homes connected next to one another in the same place. Even if no one in the home smokes, secondhand smoke can drift from one unit to another through doorways, hallways, stairwells, electrical lines, plumbing and ventilation systems.
Many think that they can open windows, use a fan or even that their ventilation systems will eliminate the secondhand smoke, but these systems actually help distribute the secondhand smoke throughout the building.
The other location where people are exposed are at their workplaces where smoking is allowed or in public places like bars, restaurants, and casinos. Creating separate smoking sections or using sophisticated ventilation systems do not protect people from the health impact of secondhand smoke.
Vehicles can also be another location where adults and children are exposed to secondhand smoke. Children can be regularly exposed if parents or other adults smoke in the vehicles while they are present. But even if they do not smoke in their presence the concentrations of secondhand smoke in vehicles where smoking is occurring can reach very high levels leading to smoke being absorbed into the upholstery and other surfaces inside a car resulting in thirdhand smoke exposure.
Children have increased risk of exposure to thirdhand smoke due to their tendency to put objects in their mouth and touch affected surfaces. Pets are also at risk as they groom themselves by licking their fur. If that fur is coated with smoke residue, they ingest carcinogens and toxins on top of the ones their lungs are taking in.
Thirdhand smoke can stick to your skin, hair, and clothing, and can be transferred into the environment. Something to note is that common cleaning methods such as vacuuming, wiping surfaces, and airing out rooms do not completely remove thirdhand smoke.
Let’s talk about health:
According to the Center for Disease Control, secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals and at least 70 of them are known to cause cancer. Regular exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke in non-smoking adults by 20-30 percent. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can interfere with normal functioning of heart, blood, and vascular systems and people with chronic conditions are more likely to suffer when exposed.
Secondhand smoke exposure is especially dangerous to children because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. Studies show that children of parents who smoke get sick more often and are at an increased risk for acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, middle ear disease, more frequent and severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
Additionally, babies exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. SIDS is the sudden, unexplained, unexpected death of an infant in the first year of life. It has been found that infants who die from SIDS have higher concentrations of nicotine, a major ingredient of tobacco smoke, in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine, a byproduct the body creates when it breaks down nicotine, than infants who die from other causes. The chemicals in secondhand smoke affect the brain in ways that can interfere with an infants’ breathing.
Thirdhand smoke is known to become more toxic over time. Exposure to these harmful pollutants can damage human cells and DNA and may be associated with short and long-term health problems such as asthma and cancer.
Tips to help protect yourself and your family:
• Eliminating smoking is the only way to fully protect people from secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure. As the harms caused by these are not preventable.
• Choose smoke-free locations and businesses to frequent
• Do not smoke or let anyone smoke in your home or car
• Encourage friends and family members to quit smoking
To successfully quit tobacco use it is encouraged for people to talk to their doctor, use a counseling services and medications such as nicotine replacement therapy. Have them put a plan in place, this can include identifying their triggers and how to address them.
Making sure they have a support system in case they have setbacks and encouraging them not to give up. They are also able to use the support from the Nevada Tobacco Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or text “start” or “enroll now” to 300800 for free services or go to www.nevadatobaccoquitline.com for more information.
Remember that opening windows and using fans, air conditioners, air purifiers, air fresheners, or ventilation systems cannot get rid of secondhand smoke. And smoking in another room like a bathroom or bedroom will not protect children and others from secondhand smoke.
What laws do we have in place to protect us?
On Dec. 8, 2006, the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act officially went into effect as Nevada voters chose to protect the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure. The passage of this measure provided substantial changes to Nevada smoking laws and protects children and adults from secondhand smoke in most indoor public places.
During the 2019 legislative session the law was updated to include electronic cigarettes, or vaping products also known as e-cigarettes. While exposure to secondhand smoke has declined in Nevada, not everyone is equally protected. The following are the only public places allowed by law to allow the use of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, or vaping products:
• Areas of casinos where minors are prohibited
• Stand-alone bars, taverns, and saloons in which patrons under 21 years of age are prohibited
• Retail tobacco stores
• Strip clubs or brothels
• Convention floors at tobacco-related trade shows
However, these establishments or venues may choose to implement voluntary “No Smoking/No Vaping” policies.
Currently 14.8 percent of adults in Nevada smoke and 23.5 percent vape or use e-cigarettes. Nevada smoking rate for high school students is 3.4 percent but e-cigarette use is 17.5 percent, according to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. We need to continue our efforts in reducing smoking and vaping rates and protect all Nevadans from exposure to secondhand smoke and vape emissions.
For additional resources and information about department programs and services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org, follow us on X formerly Twitter @CCHealthEd, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cchhs, follow us Instagram @gethealthycarsoncity, call us at 775-887-2190, or visit us at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City.