The Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center produces content and materials for public, not-for-profit use. Please credit the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center when using our materials. You can tag our social media handles when appropriate.
Fair Use Act Disclaimer:
This site is for educational purposes only. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
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.
Click for the downloadable full-size version.
Click for the social media-optimized square dimensions.
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.
Click for the downloadable full-size version.
Click for the social media-optimized square dimensions.
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.
Click for the downloadable full-size version.
Click for the social media-optimized square dimensions.
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.
Click for the downloadable full-size version.
Click for the social media-optimized square dimensions.
_______
