Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRoutes of ExposureChemicals It ContainsDangers and RisksAvoidance StrategiesHow to Remove
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Routes of Exposure
Chemicals It Contains
Dangers and Risks
Avoidance Strategies
How to Remove
Thirdhand smoke is thenicotineand other chemicals from cigarettes that remain on surfaces well after someone has smoked. These residues can then be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, potentially increasing the risk of certaincancersand other serious diseases. Some of these chemicals can also mix with commonindoor pollutantsto create toxins harmful to smokers and non-smokers alike.
Megumi Kurosaki / EyeEm / Getty Images
Infants and small children are especially vulnerable to thirdhand smoke due to hand-to-mouth behaviors. Although there are ways to remove thirdhand smoke from the home, the only surefire way to protect yourself is to ban smoking where you live and to quit smoking if you do.
Why Is Lung Cancer Increasing in Non-Smokers?
Smoke does not dissipate in the air as some might suspect, and what’s left behind is not without health concerns. That is why researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston coined the termthirdhand smokein 2009.
Whereassecondhand smokeis what you inhale when someone else’s smoke is circulating in the air, thirdhand smoke is the residue from smoke that settles and clings onto surfaces, objects, and fabrics in a room. This not only includes floors, walls, and counters but also clothing, furniture, toys, drapes, bedding, and carpets.
Thirdhand smoke residue accumulates and can persist for months and even years.
Unless the toxic chemicals are removed, they enter the body in one of three ways:
Fabrics pose a special concern in that the chemicals from thirdhand smoke are difficult to remove from fibers and weaves. A 2014 study published inPLoS ONEconcluded than thirdhand smoke embedded in cotton terrycloth can potentially expose a toddler to seven times the amount of nicotine aspassive smoking.
Chemicals in Thirdhand Smoke
Of the multitude of chemicals found in thirdhand smoke, there are several that are known to becarcinogenic(cancer-causing). These include:
There is also evidence that thirdhand smoke can react with common indoor pollutants to form all new and potentially more serious toxins.
Furthermore, when mixed with ozone (also generated from fuel combustion), the chemicals in thirdhand smoke break down into ultra-fine particles, delivering formaldehyde and other carcinogenic compounds into the deeper airways of the lungs.
Dangers of Thirdhand Smoke
The research into thirdhand smoke is still relatively new and, at present, many of the proposed hazards are more theoretic than established.
With that said, there is mounting evidence of possible harms associated with thirdhand smoke:
As concerning as these risks are on paper, it is still unknownhow muchthirdhand smoke contributes to the onset of disease. Some researchers express doubt, for example, that nitrosamines can be readily absorbed or ingested in a way that can directly link them to cancer or other illnesses.
It is simply too early to say; further research is needed, particularly in relation to the findings of animal studies and their application in humans.
Still, any risk of thirdhand smoke only adds to the risks of secondhand smoke in smoking households. And unlike secondhand smoke, the risk of thirdhand smoke can increase over time as more and more toxins are deposited on surfaces.
Concern for Young ChildrenWhere the risk is likely greatest is in newborns and infants due to their smaller size and undeveloped immune systems.A 2014 study found that newborns living in homes where 10 or more cigarettes are smoked per day are more likely to hospitalized than those where smoking is banned. According to the researchers, homes with fewer than 10 cigarettes had the lowest level of thirdhand smoke on surfaces.
Concern for Young Children
Where the risk is likely greatest is in newborns and infants due to their smaller size and undeveloped immune systems.A 2014 study found that newborns living in homes where 10 or more cigarettes are smoked per day are more likely to hospitalized than those where smoking is banned. According to the researchers, homes with fewer than 10 cigarettes had the lowest level of thirdhand smoke on surfaces.
Where the risk is likely greatest is in newborns and infants due to their smaller size and undeveloped immune systems.
A 2014 study found that newborns living in homes where 10 or more cigarettes are smoked per day are more likely to hospitalized than those where smoking is banned. According to the researchers, homes with fewer than 10 cigarettes had the lowest level of thirdhand smoke on surfaces.
Avoiding Thirdhand Smoke
The best way to avoid thirdhand smoke is to have a zero-tolerance policy for smoking in your home or vehicle. Unlike secondhand smoke, ventilation does little to remove thirdhand smoke. You may not even know it’s there.
Even if smoking is stopped, don’t expect the problem to spontaneously disappear. Research from the University of California Riverside found that thirdhand smoke can persist on surfaces, especially fabrics and furniture, for 19 months. Thirdhand smoke can even persist after a room is painted and re-carpeted.
If you think you are being exposed to thirdhand smoke, there are things that you can do to protect yourself and your family:
How to Remove Thirdhand Smoke
Removing thirdhand smoke is tougher than it sounds. Washing or dry cleaning alone may not cut it. In order for a cleanser to remove nicotine, it must be acidic. But most soaps are alkaline and fail to remove nicotine even from smooth surfaces.
On the flip side, acidic solutions like vinegar can remove thirdhand smoke from surfaces, but this option is not always practical as it can damage granite, marble, limestone, onyx, travertine, and grout, as well as leave behind a powerful smell.
The removal of thirdhand smoke from a home can be very costly. Before moving into a new house or apartment, ask about the history of smoking in the residence and what has been done to remedy any residue, if applicable.
The non-profit American Nonsmoker’s Right Foundation recommends that property owners and managers take the following measures before new tenants move in:
A Word From Verywell
Thirdhand smoke is a relatively new concept but one that should be of concern, especially to parents. As there is no such thing as a “safe” amount of secondhand smoke, no amount of thirdhand smoke should be considered “safe” if you have a newborn or infant (or are living with a severe respiratory disease like COPD).
By instating a smoking ban in the home, you can significantly reduce your exposure to thirdhand smoke. If someone in your home does smoke, restricting smoking to outdoor spaces may not be enough. The only guaranteed solution is for them toquit smoking, ideally under the care of a doctor with approvedsmoking cessation aids.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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