¿Qué significa cuando olemos humo de tabaco rancio?

Por lo general olemos humo de tabaco rancio cuando estamos en un espacio interior techo donde alguien ha fumado o cuando estamos cerca de una persona que ha fumado recientemente. Los residuos tóxicos del humo del tabaco, conocido como humo de tercera mano, se acumulan con el tiempo y se incrustan en objetos como alfombras, muebles, paredes, ropa, piel o cabello.

Cuando huele humo de tabaco rancio, significa que los contaminantes del humo de tercera mano se han liberado al aire desde los lugares donde se acumularon. A medida que respiramos el aire contaminado, el olor a tabaco rancio nos advierte que hay humo de tercera mano—con cada respiración inhalamos contaminantes de humo de tercera mano en nuestros cuerpos. Esta mezcla de contaminantes del humo de tercera mano contiene sustancias químicas que pueden irritar la garganta y los pulmones, causar inflamación, dañar el funcionamiento normal de las células, dañar el ADN y se sabe o se sospecha que causan cáncer en los humanos.

Pero, incluso cuando no podemos oler el humo del tabaco, puede haber humo de tercera mano. Nuestro sentido del olfato es un buen sistema de advertencia, pero solo podemos oler un olor cuando la sustancia química supera el nivel umbral donde el olor es perceptible. Por debajo del nivel umbral no podemos olerlo, pero eso no significa que no esté allí. Y algunas de las sustancias químicas en el humo de tercera mano son inodoros; no podemos olerlos sin importar su nivel. Entonces, incluso cuando no podemos oler el olor a humo de tabaco rancio, todavía podemos estar expuestos al humo de tercera mano.

Actualizado: Enero 2020

Fuentes:

Hang B, Wang P, Zhao Y, Sarker A, Chenna A, Xia Y, Snijders AM, Mao JH. Adverse health effects of thirdhand smoke: From cell to animal models. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Apr 28;18(5). pii: E932.

Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Zakarian JM, Hoh E, Hovell MF, Mahabee-Gittens M, Watanabe K, Datuin K, Vue C, Chatfield DA. When smokers quit: exposure to nicotine and carcinogens persists from thirdhand smoke pollution. Tob Control.2016; 26(5):548-556.

Matt GE, Quintana PJ, Zakarian JM, Fortmann AL, Chatfield DA, Hoh E, Uribe AM, Hovell MF. When smokers move out and non-smokers move in: residential thirdhand smoke pollution and exposure. Tob Control. 2011;20(1):e1.

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