Third-Hand Smoke Found To Pose Health Hazard For Kids

By April Clarkson, April 14th, 2013 | Health | 0 Comments

Researchers have found that third-hand smoke can pose a major health hazard for children, and even adults in many cases.

Third-hand smoke is something that develops on a surface after a cigarette has been put out.

So if you are sitting on a couch smoking and you put the cigarette out, the residue left on the couch is third-hand smoke. It has been found that this residue, which can consist of carinogens, radioactive materials, and others, can pose a major health risk for children and adults.

Researchers from Massachusetts General found that children were at highest risk as they got the closest to the surfaces covered in the third-hand smoke.

What this means is that smoking in private places, even when children are not home can do damage long-term as they can pick up the residue long after the cigarette and smoke are gone.

The study has been published in the journal Pediatrics.