When smokers move out and non-smokers move in: residential thirdhand smoke pollution and exposure

Abstract

Background This study examined whether thirdhand smoke (THS) persists in smokers’ homes after they move out and nonsmokers move in, and whether new nonsmoking residents are exposed to THS in these homes. Methods Homes of 100 smokers and 50 nonsmokers were visited before the residents moved out. Dust, surfaces, and air and participants’ fingers were measured for nicotine and children’s urine samples were analyzed for cotinine. The new residents who moved into these homes were recruited if they were nonsmokers. Dust, surfaces, and air, and new residents’ fingers were examined for nicotine in 25 former smoker and 16 former nonsmoker homes. A urine sample was collected from the youngest resident. Results Smoker homes’ dust, surface, and air nicotine decreased after the change of occupancy (p<.001); yet dust and surfaces showed higher contamination levels in former smoker homes than former nonsmoker homes (p<.05). Nonsmoking participants’ finger nicotine was higher in former smoker homes compared to former nonsmoker homes (p<.05). Finger nicotine levels among nonsmokers living in former smoker homes were significantly correlated with dust and surface nicotine and urine cotinine. Conclusions These findings indicate that THS accumulates in smokers’ homes and persists when smokers move out even after homes remain vacant for two months and are cleaned and prepared for new residents. When nonsmokers move into homes formerly occupied by smokers, they encounter indoor environments with THS polluted surfaces and dust. Results suggest that nonsmokers living in former smoker homes are exposed to THS in dust and on surfaces.

Children’s Exposure to Secondhand and Thirdhand Smoke Carcinogens and Toxicants in Homes of Hookah Smokers

“…Children living in these homes are at risk for exposure to tobacco THS throughout their homes. GM surface nicotine levels in daily hookah smoker homes were higher than levels found in indoor daily cigarette smoker homes (living rooms: GM, 83.67 vs. 51.3 µg/m 2 ; child bedrooms: GM, 64.6 vs. 41.9 µg/m 2 , respectively) (Matt et al, 2011b).…”

“…Blanks were not used due to a small budget. Nicotine extracts from wipes samples were determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with electrospray ionization (see details in Matt et al, 2011b). The LOD was 5 ng/100 cm 2 (0.5 μg/m 2 ).…”

“…Homes were eligible if participants had lived in their current home for at least 6 months and their home was either a "smoker home" or a "nonsmoker home" as described previously (Matt et al, 2011b). "Smoker homes" were those in which residents have smoked hookah-only tobacco indoors or outdoors (on the patio or balcony) during at least 5 of the past 6 months, including the current most recent month, and have not smoked cigarettes or any other tobacco products anywhere inside the home or outdoors in the past 6 months.…”

Liquid Chromatography Electrochemical Determination of Nicotine in Third‐Hand Smoke

“…A number of different analytical methods have been utilised for the determination of nicotine in THS [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Nicotine has been determined in several different sample matrices such as toenails [22] and hair [23][24][25][26] utilising the liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LC-ED) method developed by Mahoney and Al-Delaimy [27], however to our knowledge, there have been no other reports on its determination by LC-ED.…”

Children's Environment in Brazil: From Domestic (Indoor) to Regional Threats

“…But even worse than exposing children to tobacco smoke is contaminating them with third-hand smoking -THS [158], which according to Ramírez et al [159] can cause changes to the DNA and cancer, as the nicotine residues provoke on lesions that break the molecule bonds responsible for transmitting the genetic code. In our research, we did not find any Brazilian study about so important theme.…”