'Third-hand smoke' could damage health

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'Third-hand smoke' could damage health

_http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8503870.stm_

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8503870.stm)

 

 

Lingering residue from tobacco smoke which clings to upholstery, clothing

and the skin releases cancer-causing agents, work in PNAS journal shows.

 

 

Berkeley scientists in the US ran lab tests and found " substantial levels "

of toxins on smoke-exposed material.

 

 

They say while banishing smokers to outdoors cuts second-hand smoke,

residues will follow them back inside and this " third-hand smoke " may harm.

 

 

Opponents called it a laughable term designed to frighten people unduly.

 

 

The scientists say nicotine stains on clothing, furniture and wallpaper

can react with a common indoor pollutant to generate dangerous chemicals

called tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs.

 

 

In the tests, contaminated surface exposed to " high but reasonable "

amounts of the pollutant nitrous acid - emitted by unvented gas appliances and

in

car exhaust - boosted levels of newly formed TSNAs 10-fold.

 

 

Substantial traces of TSNAs were also found on the inside surfaces of a

truck belonging to a heavy smoker.

 

 

The researchers say third-hand smoke is an unappreciated health hazard and

suggest a complete ban on smoking in homes and in vehicles to eliminate

any risk.

 

 

Cancer chemicals

 

Toxic particles from cigarette smoke can linger on surfaces long after the

cigarette has been put out, and small children are particularly

susceptible because they are likely to breathe in close proximity, or even lick

and

suck them, they say.

 

 

Researcher Lara Gundel, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

said: " 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.

 

 

" Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child's skin is likely to occur

when the smoker returns and if nitrous acid is in the air, which it usually

is, then TSNAs will be formed. "

 

 

They are now doing more research to better understand what threat, if any,

TSNAs pose.

 

 

Amanda Sandford of Action on Smoking and Health said: " The harmful effects

of second-hand smoke are already well-established but this study adds a

new dimension to the dangers associated with smoking and provides further

evidence of the need to protect children, in particular, from exposure to

tobacco smoke.

 

 

" The study shows that the residue of smoke on surfaces represents a

potential risk for cancer but so far we don't know how big at risk. "

 

 

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, remained

sceptical.

He said: " The dose makes the poison and there is no evidence that exposure

to such minute levels is harmful.

 

 

" That doesn't seem to matter, though. The aim, it seems, is to generate

alarm in the hope that people will be stopped from smoking or will give up.

 

 

" The real danger is not third-hand smoke but propaganda dressed up as

science. Until the evidence of harm is irrefutable, scientists and campaigners

should resist the urge to tell us how to live our lives. "

 

 

Ed Young of Cancer Research UK said: " This is an interesting piece of

research that adds the possibility of an extra level of harm from tobacco

smoke.

 

" There is clear evidence about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke to

children, especially in homes and cars.

 

" The most important step parents can take to protect their families from

the dangers of cigarette smoke is to make their homes and cars smokefree. "