How long does thirdhand smoke last?

Thirdhand smoke is the chemical residue from tobacco smoke. It is also called “tobacco smoke residue” or “stale tobacco smoke.” The chemicals in thirdhand smoke are toxic to humans, especially children. It can linger for years in dust and on household surfaces. It can also become embedded in carpets, furniture, clothes, and building materials. It is difficult and expensive to remove.

In homes where tobacco has been smoked regularly over many years, the thirdhand smoke residue is likely to be embedded in materials throughout the home. These reservoirs of pollution can be very persistent. For instance, we have found thirdhand smoke on surfaces years after the last known cigarette was smoked.

In one case, after a person who had smoked in the home moved out, the home was cleaned and remained empty for months. Still, thirdhand smoke levels on household surfaces were similar to those found in the homes of active smokers.

In a second case, a person with a lifelong one-pack per day habit successfully quit. More than five years later, thirdhand smoke levels on their household furniture were at amounts commonly found in homes of active smokers.

In a recent study, thirdhand smoke was found in every apartment tested (220) with smoke-free tenants living in smoke-free apartments. Of those tested, about 10% had thirdhand smoke levels on surfaces that were similar to amounts found in apartments where people actively smoked indoors. Toxic thirdhand smoke residue is widespread and persistent. Although it can be challenging to remove existing thirdhand smoke, guidance is available below. To prevent the accumulation of thirdhand smoke in your home, do not allow anyone to smoke in or around you, your home, or your vehicle.

How do I remove existing thirdhand smoke? Read more here and here.

Do you have more questions about the toxic legacy of tobacco smoke, how it affects human health, and what we can do about it? Learn more here.

Updated January 2023

Sources:

Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Hoh E, Zakarian J, Dodder NG, Record R., Hovell M, Mahabee-Gittens M, Padilla S, Markman L, Watanabe K, Novotny T, Persistent tobacco smoke residue in multiunit housing: Legacy of permissive indoor smoking policies and challenges in the implementation of smoking bans, Preventive Medicine Reports, Volume 18, 2020, 101088, ISSN 2211-3355, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101088.

Matt GE, Quintana PJE., Hoh E, Zakarian J, Dodder N, Record R., Hovell M, Mahabee-Gittens M, Padilla S, Markman L, Watanabe K, Novotny T, Persistent tobacco smoke residue in multiunit housing: Legacy of permissive indoor smoking policies and challenges in the implementation of smoking bans, Preventive Medicine Reports, Volume 18, 2020, 101088, ISSN 2211-3355, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101088.

Matt, GE, Quintana PJE., Hovell M, Chatfield D, Ma D, Romero R, Uribe A, Residual tobacco smoke pollution in used cars for sale: Air, dust, and surfaces, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 10, Issue 9, September 2008, Pages 1467–1475, https://doi.org/10.1080/14622200802279898.

Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Zakarian JM, Fortmann A, Chatfield D, Hoh E, Uribe A, Hovell M. When smokers move out and non-smokers move in: residential thirdhand smoke pollution and exposure, Tobacco Control, 2011;20:el, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tc.2010.037382.

Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Zakarian JM, Hoh E, Hovell M, Mahabee-Gittens M, Watanabe K, Datuin K, Vue C, Chatfield D. When smokers quit: exposure to nicotine and carcinogens persists from thirdhand smoke pollution, Tobacco Control, 2017;26:548-556, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053119.

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