Our Mission

In the face of increasing evidence about the toxic nature of thirdhand smoke and its impact on human health, the Thirdhand Smoke Research Consortium was established by California’s Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP). 

The Consortium brings together researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines and institutions throughout California to advance our understanding of the relationships among thirdhand smoke exposure and human health. 

In 2011 the first seven Consortium projects were funded by TRDRP. As the body of research has grown, the need to disseminate information to stakeholder groups and California’s diverse communities has intensified. In 2018, the Resource Center was one of the Consortium projects selected for funding by TRDRP, with the express purpose of educating the public about thirdhand smoke exposure and health.

Mission of Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center

To share information, resources, and technical support with California’s residents, communities, businesses, health care professionals, and policymakers about the toxic legacy of tobacco smoke residue and to achieve indoor environments that are 100% free of tobacco smoke toxicants.

Policy Advisory Council

The Center’s Policy Advisory Council is composed of representatives from advocacy, business, government, and public health who bring diverse expertise to the issue of thirdhand smoke and health.

Learn More »

An Introduction to Thirdhand Smoke

Learn more about thirdhand smoke by listening to our podcast.

Thirdhand Smoke Research Consortium

In 2011, the Thirdhand Smoke Research Consortium was established by California’s Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) in response to growing evidence about thirdhand smoke and human health. The Consortium brings together researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines and institutions throughout California. Research groups are from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, San Diego State University, University of California Riverside, University of California San Francisco, and University of Southern California. The main goal of the Consortium is to determine how much harm thirdhand smoke causes to human health so that we can provide science that is useful to policy makers. In the Thirdhand Smoke Consortium, we combine innovative chemical analytical approaches, state-of-the-art biological research, and established field work practices.

Projects

The first seven Consortium projects were funded by TRDRP in 2011. Each project was funded for a period of three years. The Consortium’s multi-disciplinary collaborative approach ensures that the aims of each project are coordinated and integrated with all the others. Resources such as samples from lab and field work are shared, as well as methods and analytical services, increasing the efficiency and quality for all. In 2015, additional Consortium projects were funded, again for three years.

Most recently, in 2018, eight Consortium projects were funded by TRDRP. The Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center is one of the eight projects funded in 2018.

Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program

Since its inception, California’s Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) has funded research to find better ways to prevent and reduce tobacco use and its related diseases in California, supporting more than 1200 tobacco-related studies led by California scientists and community researchers.

Funding for this research comes from tobacco tax and individual contributions. In 1988, California voters approved Proposition 99, The Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act, which instituted a 25¢ per pack cigarette surtax. Five cents of each dollar collected is used to tobacco-related research. In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 56, The Tobacco Tax Increase Initiative, increasing the cigarette surtax by $2.00 and imposing an equivalent tax on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Revenue from the cigarette tax Initiative will provide additional funds for tobacco-related prevention and research.

TRDRP is one of three state agencies that work together toward the vision of a tobacco-free California. Together with the California Departments of Health and Education, TRDRP aims to reduce the human and economic costs of tobacco use through innovative research and information dissemination.

Stay Informed

Get the latest thirdhand smoke news and research delivered straight to your inbox, or follow us on social media: