Thirdhand Smoke Is Newly Discovered Health Risk

by Carolyn Pierini, CLS (ASCP), CNC

Although there is broad consensus regarding the adverse health effects of cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke, there is considerable ambiguity about a new level of exposure: thirdhand smoke (THS). Thirdhand smoke is actually what lingers after secondhand smoke has been cleared. THS demonstrates the cumulative effect that tobacco use has on human health.

THS consists of residual tobacco smoke pollutants that can be inhaled or ingested when they are re-emitted into the air from surfaces or dust where they deposit, settle and accumulate. THS is found in settings where smoking occurs regularly as in homes, private offices and cars. It is emitted and easily detected from the clothing of a smoker. THS pollutants may persist for varying periods of time after tobacco sources have been extinguished, whereas secondhand smoke is removed through ventilation. Although THS evolves from secondhand smoke, which contains more than 4,000 chemicals, there is still much to be learned about its chemistry, toxicology and health risks. One concern is that THS components such as nicotine and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), may react with other environmental compounds resulting in even more toxic secondary pollutants (i.e. tobacco-specific nitrosamines and aldehydes such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde and benzaldehyde). In other words, the exposure risk doesn’t end when a cigarette is extinguished!

Toxin exposures, especially frequent, are known to deplete nutrients necessary for detoxification. AL-CoFactors™ was formulated to support the body in neutralizing and clearing the primary and secondary pollutants of cigarette and other tobacco use.