Source: BBC Health; PNAS (no laughing) Journal
The Journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science has published a study on lingering tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Researchers in Berkeley, California (say no more Berkeley) have found “substantial” concentrations of toxins upon substances exposed to tobacco products.
What sort of substances? Clothing, furniture and wallpaper for starters. The researchers have suggested that third hand smoke is an unappreciated health hazard and have called for a ban on home and vehicular smoking -where TSNA’s can concentrate in unhealthful amounts. The largest at risk group? Young children who touch and put everything in their mouths.
The director of the Brit smoker’s lobby group Forest (Freedom Organization for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco) (Yes, everyone has a lobby group nowadays!) was not-surprisingly skeptical, referring to the study as “propaganda dressed up as science.” Oh, lest I be accused of bias, they have a website too. http://www.forestonline.org/
So is the risk of third hand smoke overstated? Well, maybe. However, one should consider that over 4000 chemical compounds are created by burning a cigarette, many of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia are all present in cigarette smoke. 43 known carcinogens are in mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke, or both. For a complete list of toxins in tobacco, go to http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nicotineinhaler/a/cigingredients.htm
And bear in mind that way back when asbestos was hailed as the new “wonder substance” finding it’s way into everything including bakelite jewelery (look it up, I’m not lying) it was felt to be safe. Now years later we know that asbestos fibers can cling to everything, much like, well, third hand smoke.
~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire