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Third Hand Smoke (Lingering in Clothing, Furniture, and Carpets): Toxic to Children

It’s easy for me as a teacher to tell whose parents smoke. All it takes is one walk over to the coat area, where the fumes linger in the classroom. Or when I am working one on one with a student, crunching numbers in math. The smell always makes my stomach turn, then I feel overwhelmed with sadness for the child.

Smoke on clothing, carpets and furniture is much more than a nasty smell, however. According to the New York Times, the smoke is a toxic brew of “heavy metals, carcinogens and even radioactive materials that young children can get on their hands and ingest, especially if they’re crawling or playing on the floor.”

Researchers have labeled it “third hand smoke.” What exactly is it? According to the Scientific American, “”Third-hand smoke is tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette has been extinguished,” says Jonathan Winickoff, a pediatrician at the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston and author of a study on the new phenomenon published in the journal Pediatrics.”

The study was published in this month’s issue of the Journal Pediatrics the risks third hand smoke poses to infants and children. Researchers found out that less than half of smokers thought that breathing in a room where people smoked the day before is harmful to children.

Researchers also describe the brain’s reaction to the smell of cigarette smoke as a safety response. Just ask me about a trip we took to a hotel in Montreal. They mistakenly gave us a smoking room, with a dingy, old lady smell. My daughter was extremely uncomfortable and unsettled (screaming, that is, for hours). We left in the middle of the night to drive home because she was inconsolable. Her 2 year old brain knew it wasn’t okay for her to be there (despite our hotel reservation and weekend plans).

According to the New York Times article, “Among the substances in third-hand smoke are hydrogen cyanide, used in chemical weapons; butane, which is used in lighter fluid; toluene, found in paint thinners; arsenic; lead; carbon monoxide; and even polonium-210, the highly radioactive carcinogen that was used to murder former Russian spy Alexander V. Litvinenko in 2006. Eleven of the compounds are highly carcinogenic.”

Third hand smoke, according to this article by the Scientific American, is dangerous because there is “no risk free level of tobacco exposure. There are 250 poisonous toxins found in cigarette smoke. One such substance is lead. Very good studies show that tiny levels of exposure are associated with diminished IQ.”

Yep, you read that right. Lead in cigarette smoke. I knew about the arsenic and other carcinogenic chemicals, but I didn’t know about the lead. The Scientific American article goes on to describe why infants and children are at such a risk from third hand smoke. They are always on the floor, and putting things in their mouths, so they ingest twice as much dust as adults do. And of course their size and constant development put make them more vulnerable to toxins as well.

This study and term has the ability to change behaviors of smoking and non-smoking parents and that is good. No child should be exposed to such a harmful and toxic stew of chemicals.

Image: coffee & cigarettes. by P.Retuta on Flickr under Creative Commons

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Comments

  1. Erinne says

    January 10, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I like to buy a lot of clothes and toys second-hand, but is that dangerous? Of course I wash anything before I give it to a child, but is there a special wash routine or product that is best for removing the harmful chemicals?

    Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    January 26, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    It is difficult to deal with smokers. I am so sensitive to smoke that I can smell it from across the room. My child spends time with a smoker and even though they smoke outside, I wonder if it is a danger to my baby.

    Reply
  3. Samantha says

    March 9, 2009 at 4:40 am

    I love it when people think prefume make the toxins go away and lighting a candle will make everything alright. or when relatives get mad at you because you do not want them to hold your child because they smell like and ashtray.

    Reply
  4. Patrick says

    November 16, 2009 at 10:12 am

    You people need to get off your high horse…. You are basing this article on anecdotal evidence which is ridiculous.. Basing your third hand smoke opinions on what amounts to a survey poll and behaving as if it is gospel. Saying how it was the cigarette smoke YOU didn’t like and suggesting that this is why your infant child wouldn’t settle down. Anyone around here know what the word SCIENCE means or are you all too busy making mountains out of molehills?

    Reply
  5. Patrick says

    November 16, 2009 at 10:55 am

    Here is an article where somone actully used their brain before believing this tripe.

    Reply
  6. Patrick says

    November 16, 2009 at 10:56 am

    http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2009/01/third-hand-smoke-and-chemtrails.html

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Third Hand Smoke « Dreamingmama’s Weblog says:
    January 8, 2009 at 8:13 am

    […] Here is a great post about third hand smoke.  I’m sure there is much more information to digest out there. […]

    Reply

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About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

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