Thirdhand Smoke Researcher Awarded Funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse

New funding from National Institute on Drug Abuse will support Dr. Ashley Merianos from the University of Cincinnati and her Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center team as they expand their research into the potential sources of thirdhand smoke exposure in children’s home environments.

By Lydia Greiner
September 4, 2019

“Our team’s research indicates that pediatric emergency department patients are a priority population for tobacco smoke exposure reduction efforts. We know that these children are exposed to alarmingly high levels of secondhand and thirdhand smoke, but we do not know how much their home environments contribute to their overall tobacco smoke exposure,” said Dr. Merianos.

The overall objective of this study is to determine the overall tobacco smoke exposure, including thirdhand smoke pollution, of pediatric emergency department patients. Participants in the study are children who have been treated in the Emergency Department of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Surface wipe samples were collected from their homes and will be analyzed to determine levels of nicotine and the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK, two thirdhand smoke pollutants, in their home environments. Samples of urine were collected and will be measured for levels of cotinine as a measure of the children’s exposure to tobacco smoke. The evaluation of these levels will help researchers  gain a better understanding of how  thirdhand smoke pollutants in the environment contribute to children’s overall tobacco smoke exposure.

Dr. Merianos’ team includes Dr. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Drs. Eunha Hoh, Penelope Quintana, and Georg Matt, all from San Diego State University.
Source: Personal communication with Dr. Merianos.
Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

More Must Read Stories

A row of apartments on a sunny day. The image has the title “The California Fair Employment and Housing Act Can Help Tenants Avoid Second- and Thirdhand Smoke.”

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act Can Help Tenants in Multiunit Housing Avoid Second- and Thirdhand Smoke

Do you live in California and have medical conditions made worse by from tobacco smoke intrusion? If you live in multiunit housing, you may be able to get help from California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

A wooden decoration that says “home” and a set of house keys lie on a table. A question about the smoking history on the Seller Property Questionnaire is in the bottom right corner.

What can I do to Avoid Thirdhand Smoke when Buying a House in California?

A team at the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center examined home disclosure documents commonly used in San Diego to see how well they inform buyers about the smoking history of their potential home.

Children’s Hands Can Tell us if They were Exposed to Thirdhand Smoke

A recent study from San Diego State University suggests that nicotine on the hands of children is one of the most effective ways to measure children’s thirdhand smoke exposure over time and in different environments. In collaboration with colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the researchers

Silhouette rows of people stand with the words "56 million Americans" in front

56 Million Americans Don’t Know They’re Exposed to Tobacco Smoke – Thirdhand Smoke Could be to Blame

Over half of Americans who don’t smoke are exposed to tobacco, but only one-third are aware of it, according to a recent University of Florida study.

An electronic cigarette and conventional cigarette fight a pair of lungs.

Is the chemical residue from electronically heated tobacco products different from the chemical residue from traditional cigarettes?

A recent study compared the effects of chemical residue from using electronically heated tobacco products to chemical residue from smoking on lung cells. It turns out that both kinds of chemical residue can damage lungs.