Babies’ Lungs Could be Vulnerable to ‘Thirdhand’ Smoke

Tobacco smoke toxins that linger on surfaces, called ‘thirdhand’ smoke, may pose a danger to developing babies’ lungs, according to researchers at Harbor UCLA Medical Center.

Thirdhand smoke is secondhand smoke that attaches to surfaces such as furniture, clothing and curtains. The researchers report in the American Journal of Physiology that their animal study found components of thirdhand smoke may contribute to damage in the lungs of a developing fetus.

UPI reports that researcher Dr. Virender Rehan advises pregnant women to avoid homes and other places where thirdhand smoke is likely to be found. He says that touching surfaces with thirdhand smoke particles and swallowing dust containing the particles are the most likely way to be exposed to the toxins.