Thirdhand smoke raises concerns

You may never have heard of thirdhand smoke, yet there are chances that you have smelled it. The Thirdhand smoke (THS), which is a toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing is invisible. It remains with cushions and carpeting that lingers long after secondhand smoke has cleared from a room.

First part of this article was published last Saturday March 12, 2011 [http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/03/12/fea01.asp]

“Our study shows that when this residual nicotine reacts with ambient nitrous acid, it forms carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs,” Destaillats said. “TSNAs are among the most broadly acting and potent carcinogens present in unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke.”

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