Contents:
- Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Thirdhand smoke dangers
- How cigarette smoke can stick to objects
- The impact on health
- 1. Risk of cancer
- 2. Damage to organs in the body
- 3. Risk of type 2 diabetes
- Anyone who is most at risk becomes third hand smoker?
- How to overcome it?
Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Thirdhand smoke dangers
Unlike passive smoking or secondhand smoker who breathe cigarette smoke directly in the air, third-party smokers or in English known as third hand smoker is a term for someone who is exposed to residual substances from cigarette smoke that sticks to the surface of objects around them. Basically, third-party smokers are exposed to poisons from cigarettes left in the environment.
How cigarette smoke can stick to objects
This is most often found when there is a smoker in a family and lives in one house. According to Dr. Georg Matt, a researcher from the University of San Diego, cigarette smoke residues can survive on the surface of objects, especially in homes. He said that the house could be the source and main shelter of cigarette smoke pollutants.
Environmental chemist Eunha Hoh (as reported by eurekalert.org), stated that cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals which are mostly toxic and carcinogenic, and these can all be attached to various objects, especially in closed room environments that have a porous surface. One component that is known to be carcinogenic and can be stored in the environment is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). This component absorbs into the walls, furniture, and objects made from gypsum and carpet in the house. These substances can be stored for a long time with increasing levels of substances.
Research by Sleiman in 2010 showed that nicotine absorption from cigarette smoke can take place faster, and the amount absorbed tends to be consistent on indoor surfaces, including the surface of the skin and clothing. The nicotine substances will be stored can react with nitric acid in the air to form carcinogens nitrosamines that can be absorbed by the body through breathing, digestion and contact with the skin.
The substance of cigarette smoke can be detected by the smell of cigarettes on the surface of the object after the absence of cigarette smoke. It also shows the presence of poisons from cigarettes on the surface of the object.
The impact on health
1. Risk of cancer
Like exposure to carcinogens in general, third-party smokers are also at risk of developing cancer if they are in an environment where there is a residual smoke in a long time. Research by biochemists named Hang in 2013 showed the impact of exposure third hand smokers left in the environment can cause cell damage to DNA.
Damage to the DNA chain in cells due to exposure to substances from residual cigarette smoke can cause cells to mutate into cancer cells.
2. Damage to organs in the body
Not only does cell damage result in the growth of cancer cells, the rest of the cigarette substances also have the potential to cause damage to the cardiovascular system and liver organs. Research by Martins-Green in 2014 showed that the impact of exposure third hand smoker including:
- An increase in body fat cells and damage to the liver due to increased fat content
- Exposure to residual cigarette substances triggers lung inflammation which can result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
- Exposure to residual cigarettes will inhibit wound healing on the surface of the skin
3. Risk of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a condition when insulin resistance occurs which inhibits glucose use in the body. This is influenced by oxidative stress. According to Martins-Green, based on the results of his research, exposure to substances from residual cigarette smoke can cause an increase in oxidative pressure that can trigger and worsen insulin resistance and cause type 2 diabetes.
Anyone who is most at risk becomes third hand smoker?
The remaining substances of cigarettes will last for a long time for decades, and the amount of stored toxins will continue to grow. This is what causes anyone in the environment to experience the impact of this exposure, especially children and the elderly.
Children from smokers will be at high risk of exposure to cigarette smoke and the environment that is contaminated with cigarette smoke. This is because cigarette smoke residues will continue to exist in homes, clothing, and vehicles with significant levels of contamination. Especially in infants who have the habit of inserting their hands into the mouth after touching a surface. Whereas the elderly have more risks because susceptibility to disease continues to increase with age.
How to overcome it?
To eliminate the residual smoke that sticks to the surface of objects and rooms in the house, it is necessary to clean all corners of the house, items, and furniture, to repaint the walls of the house to minimize the toxicity attached to the wall. But prevention efforts will be easier and simpler by not smoking, or quitting smoking in the house.
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