A recent study by Yao and colleagues at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reveals that toxic thirdhand smoke residue can alter anxiety and memory, even at low levels of indirect exposure. Using a genetically diverse population of mice, researchers found that these effects varied widely, with some groups showing increased anxiety, others decreased anxiety, and certain mice experiencing memory loss. These differences were strongly influenced by genetic background and sex, highlighting that susceptibility to thirdhand smoke is not the same for everyone. This study adds to growing evidence that thirdhand smoke can have lasting neurobehavioral effects.
In a follow-up interview with the study’s lead author, Dr. Hang Chang, they emphasize that while these findings come from animal models, they point to important implications for human health.
“One thing for sure is it [thirdhand smoke] will affect both animal and human brains, even with very early-stage exposures. There is a health risk of thirdhand smoke on the human brain, but the impact is not the same across individuals and appears to be genetically dependent,” says Dr. Chang.
“Many people may not realize this is not happening to everyone in the same way, but may instead affect more vulnerable subpopulations. We do not yet know exactly which humans will be most affected, but this provides a path forward for public health studies to identify those at higher risk. Children and women may be more vulnerable, and even short-term exposure can impact memory and anxiety, suggesting thirdhand smoke may be neurotoxic”
Click here to read the full research study.
