Move Over, Second-Hand Smoke...

William Haskins · Dec 30, 2008

real science or scare tactics to push through an agenda?

Need another reason to add "Quit Smoking" to your New Year's resolutions list? How about the fact that even if you choose to smoke outside of your home or only smoke in your home when your children are not there – thinking that you're keeping them away from second-hand smoke – you're still exposing them to toxins? In the January issue of Pediatrics, researchers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) and colleagues across the country describe how tobacco smoke contamination lingers even after a cigarette is extinguished – a phenomenon they define as "third-hand" smoke.

Small children are especially susceptible to third-hand smoke exposure because they can inhale near, crawl and play on, or touch and mouth contaminated surfaces. Third-hand smoke can remain indoors even long after the smoking has stopped. Similar to low-level lead exposure, low levels of tobacco particulates have been associated with cognitive deficits among children, and the higher the exposure level, the lower the reading score. These findings underscore the possibility that even extremely low levels of these compounds may be neurotoxic and, according to the researchers, justify restricting all smoking in indoor areas inhabited by children.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081229105037.htm

i call dibs on coining "fourth-hand smoke": a kid who has been in a swelling where a cigarette was once smoked goes to the park and plays a game of tag with other kids, setting off a daisy chain of toxicity that makes cherobyl look like a common cold.

James81 · Dec 30, 2008

Wow, this is getting ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure the toxins in people's perfumes (which contain carcinogens, btw) are far worse than this shit.

mscelina · Dec 30, 2008

*lights up another cigarette*

No fair, Haskins. hasn't fourth hand smoking been claimed by the Illinois Secretary of State already or something like that?

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 30, 2008

Wait. So if I have my cigar outside, that ISN'T keeping 2nd hand smoke away from my kids?

Explain that one. Please. Really. Because I want to fucking know how that is possible.

James81 · Dec 30, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Wait. So if I have my cigar outside, that ISN'T keeping 2nd hand smoke away from my kids?

Explain that one. Please. Really. Because I want to fucking know how that is possible.

It's the toxins. Those pesky toxins.

Haggis · Dec 30, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Wait. So if I have my cigar outside, that ISN'T keeping 2nd hand smoke away from my kids?

Explain that one. Please. Really. Because I want to fucking know how that is possible.

If you smoke outside, you're slowly killing all the children of Minnesota.

mscelina · Dec 30, 2008

Residue on the dirt? I have no idea, Ed. Seriously. I smoke outside because I'm a rare book dealer and I love my rare books a hell of a lot more than I love my cigarettes. HOWEVER, I find it hard to buy into a theory that smoking outside is lowering a kid's reading score.

James81 · Dec 30, 2008

Haggis said:
If you smoke outside, you're slowly killing all the children of Minnesota.

Well isn't that Volcano going to erupt and do that soon anyway?

DeleyanLee · Dec 30, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Wait. So if I have my cigar outside, that ISN'T keeping 2nd hand smoke away from my kids?

Whereas my thought is that if it DOESN'T work--why should people keep going outside and freeze?

Isn't science and research just marvy?

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 30, 2008

Haggis said:
If you smoke outside, you're slowly killing all the children of Minnesota.

Whew. That's a relief, since I live in Wisconsin.

Haggis · Dec 30, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Whew. That's a relief, since I live in Wisconsin.

The Iowa and Illinois smokers are taking care of your kids.

mscelina · Dec 30, 2008

For me? My kids didn't need to see me smoke, be around me when I smoked, or suffer in the backseat while my smoke blew back with the heat from the vents. That being said, now that they are grown, they can do as they please. I smoke outside to preserve rare books.

And also to save on my febreze bills. That crap is expensive.

Christine N. · Dec 30, 2008

While I take umbrage with the idea of 'third hand smoke', I can understand the passing of toxins. Have you ever left the home of someone who smoked, even if they didn't do it while you were there? You reek like smoke. The scent must be make of something, so I'm guessing you're carrying particulates with you.

As far as that teensy bit doing damage? I can't believe that.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 30, 2008

Christine N. said:
While I take umbrage with the idea of 'third hand smoke', I can understand the passing of toxins. Have you ever left the home of someone who smoked, even if they didn't do it while you were there? You reek like smoke. The scent must be make of something, so I'm guessing you're carrying particulates with you.

As far as that teensy bit doing damage? I can't believe that.

But the story suggested this third hand smoke is even present when you SMOKE OUTSIDE.

robeiae · Dec 30, 2008

Are there any toxins out there that didn't come from cigarette smoking?

Tirjasdyn · Dec 30, 2008

But we're in agreement it stinks right?

Just making sure.

Christine N. · Dec 30, 2008

Do you think that crap just disappears after you exhale it? It goes somewhere, settles on something.

Probably contributes to global warming

robeiae · Dec 30, 2008

Why can't we put this all on the shoulders of Native Americans. They started it. They should have to pay for all of the consequences.

Jcomp · Dec 30, 2008

Tirjasdyn said:
But we're in agreement it stinks right?

Funky like an old batch of collard greens...

Haggis · Dec 30, 2008

I like collard greens.

Captshady · Dec 30, 2008

Christine N. said:
While I take umbrage with the idea of 'third hand smoke', I can understand the passing of toxins. Have you ever left the home of someone who smoked, even if they didn't do it while you were there? You reek like smoke. The scent must be make of something, so I'm guessing you're carrying particulates with you.

As far as that teensy bit doing damage? I can't believe that.

Then the same could/should be said of barbecues, bon fires, camp fires, etc.

Jcomp · Dec 30, 2008

Captshady said:
Then the same could/should be said of barbecues, bon fires, camp fires, etc.

Yeah, but you're not lighting up a barbecue 10 times a day or anything.

Well, I mean we do, but we're Texans. The rest of the country, though...

robeiae · Dec 30, 2008

How 'bout exhaust fumes?

rugcat · Dec 30, 2008

Captshady said:
Then the same could/should be said of barbecues, bon fires, camp fires, etc.

That smoke doesn't carry the residue of things like cyanide, for example.

But yes, smoke from anything degrades air quality and affects sufferers of asthma, heart disease, etc. That's why many cities have no burn days where you can't use your fireplace or wood stove when the air quality falls below a certain level.

Tirjasdyn · Dec 30, 2008

Haggis said:
I like collard greens.

Me too actually.

Move Over, Second-Hand Smoke...

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