Thirdhand smoke is a toxic residue that sticks to surfaces and objects. People and pets come into contact with thirdhand smoke when their skin touches a surface where thirdhand smoke has collected, when they breathe in thirdhand smoke chemicals that are in the air, and when they swallow residue that are on objects that they put in their mouths. Exposure is most dangerous for babies, children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
On this page, you will find scientific information and first-hand accounts about preventing human exposure to thirdhand smoke. We also provide communication strategies for talking with others about thirdhand smoke dangers.
Featured Story
Does Thirdhand Smoke Make You Sick? The German Newspaper Die Zeit Investigates.
As Germany plans to ban smoking in cars with children or pregnant women, the German newspaper, Die Zeit, asked experts to weigh in on the forthcoming policy. The experts concluded that this policy does not go far enough and advised caution, especially for children, due to long-term risks posed by...
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Thirdhand Smoke Harms Health Around the World
Thirdhand smoke has increasingly become a global concern. Recently, three independent research studies conducted in Turkey surveyed participants about the topic of thirdhand smoke. Each of these studies adds to the mounting body of evidence that thirdhand smoke is a prevalent issue around the world and requires widespread policy and educational action to address.
In Memorium of Tobacco Policy Advocate Esther Schiller
This past spring, fearless tobacco control advocate Esther Schiller passed away. Esther served on the Thirdhand Smoke Policy Advisory for over three years, helping to guide and shape the work we do here at the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center.
American Academy of Pediatrics Makes Recommendations to Protect Children and Adolescents from Tobacco and Nicotine
In 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement “Thirdhand Smoke: A Threat to Child Health”. This statement is the final post in our new Spotlight Series: American Academy of Pediatrics Speaks Out on Tobacco and Children. The statement makes four recommendations to protect children from thirdhand smoke.
Thirdhand Smoke Exposure is Linked to Increased Tumor Development
Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory investigated the impact of thirdhand tobacco smoke (THS) exposure on the development of tumors in mice. To reflect the genetic diversity of humans, they used Collaborative Cross (CC) mice. The researchers exposed the CC mice to thirdhand smoke and observed them for tumor development.
Using Machine Learning to Differentiate Second- and Thirdhand Smoke Exposure
This study used machine learning techniques to classify children into three different groups of reported tobacco exposure: no tobacco smoke exposure, thirdhand smoke exposure, and second- and thirdhand smoke exposure.
Can thirdhand smoke hurt my pet?
The harmful effects of second- and thirdhand smoke exposure on people are widely known, but the same effects can apply to cats, dogs, and even birds and fish! Most pet owners protect their pets from tobacco smoke because they know that as they breathe in secondhand smoke in the air, they inhale hundreds of carcinogenic toxic chemicals.
