Cadernos de Saúde Pública ()

Thirdhand smoke: when the danger is more than you can see or smell

  • Luciana Rizzieri Figueiró,
  • Ana Luiza Ziulkoski,
  • Denise Conceição Mesquita Dantas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00032216
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 32, no. 11

Abstract

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Recent discussion has focused on another form of exposure to tobacco - thirdhand smoke (THS) - consisting of residual pollutants from cigarette smoke that remain in environments. The main concern with THS is based on the presence and persistence of many toxic compounds, some specific nitrosamines from tobacco that have carcinogenic activity. Little is known about THS, and few people are aware of its existence and potential health repercussions, thus highlighting the need to shed light on the subject and incorporate it into the public health debate, as was done with passive smoking several years ago. THS is a form of passive smoking, together with secondary or involuntary exposure to cigarette smoke.

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