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What is thirdhand smoke?
An explanatory visual describing first-, second-, and thirdhand smoke. Suggested text to include alongside the infographic:
Smoking a cigarette generates two kinds of tobacco smoke: mainstream smoke that is inhaled by the smoker and sidestream smoke from the smoldering cigarette. Secondhand smoke is a combination of the sidestream smoke and the mainstream smoke exhaled by smokers. Thirdhand smoke refers to the secondhand smoke gases and particles that stick to and become embedded in materials and objects, like carpet, walls, furniture, blankets, and toys.
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How can I be exposed to thirdhand smoke?
An explanatory visual showing three ways thirdhand smoke can enter our bodies. Suggested text to include alongside the infographic:
People can be exposed to thirdhand smoke by touching contaminated surfaces (absorption through the skin), by eating contaminated objects or dust, and by breathing in air and re-suspended thirdhand smoke components.
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What tobacco products contribute to thirdhand smoke?
An explanatory visual listing the different tobacco and marijuana products that can produce thirdhand smoke. Suggested text to include alongside the infographic:
Tobacco products come in many different forms and shapes, including cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, little cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, water pipes called hookah or shisha, dissolvable products, and smokeless tobacco products such as chew, spit and snuff. All tobacco products can leave behind chemical residue. Burning marijuana produces smoke that consists of a mixture of chemicals that leaves behind thirdhand smoke residue similar to that generated from burning tobacco products.
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Why is thirdhand smoke harmful?
An explanatory visual listing the different ways thirdhand smoke exposure can present possible health risks. Suggested text to include alongside the infographic:
Thirdhand smoke is not strictly smoke, but chemicals that adhere to objects from which they can release back into the air or accumulate in house dust. Some chemicals in thirdhand smoke are not released by the cigarette, but result from chemical transformation of tobacco smoke components that happen in the environment. Many of these chemicals are known to harm human health.
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