The first study to demonstrate that thirdhand smoke causes significant genetic damage in human cells has just been released. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers’ paper titled “Thirdhand smoke causes DNA damage in human cells” was published in the journal Mutagenesis.
Thirdhand smoke is the residue that lingers on virtually all surfaces long after the cigarette has been extinguished. This study found that chronic exposure is more toxic than short-term exposure. It also found that residual nicotine can react with ozone and nitrous acid to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines and ultrafine particles which can carry harmful chemicals and pass through human tissue. Exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact.
It is the first major study of disease-related mechanisms to come out of the California Consortium on the Health Effects of Thirdhand Smoke, established two years ago.
Read more about it online here.
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