So as the new year rolls in, I am sure everyone is beginning to think about their resolutions. I am not a NY resolutions type of guy, but this year I have found reason to make one.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science by Sleiman and Gundel et al. (2010) was undertaken to determine the effects of 'Third-Hand Smoke' (THS) and what chemicals are formed in this process (the paper was extremely littered with technical chemistry and I had to read it over and over again to make sure I got the understanding right). THS is a relatively new term coined to specify the type of lingering residue from tobacco smoke. More on this to come below. Their study also mentioned another by Matt, Quintana, and Hovell et al. (2004), who looked at contamination of indoor surfaces from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS or more commonly known as second-hand smoke) and it's effects on infants.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science by Sleiman and Gundel et al. (2010) was undertaken to determine the effects of 'Third-Hand Smoke' (THS) and what chemicals are formed in this process (the paper was extremely littered with technical chemistry and I had to read it over and over again to make sure I got the understanding right). THS is a relatively new term coined to specify the type of lingering residue from tobacco smoke. More on this to come below. Their study also mentioned another by Matt, Quintana, and Hovell et al. (2004), who looked at contamination of indoor surfaces from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS or more commonly known as second-hand smoke) and it's effects on infants.
These two studies particularly frightened me because I can relate to them on a personal level. I have been a smoker for many years now while at the same time doing so indoors (in the confines of my room with the door closed) and have an infant (my young sister) among the household. Many friends have cautioned me to quit and while I have tried on numerous occasions, I have failed with the same amount of frequency. But these studies... they've struck a nerve.
The study by Matt, Quintana, & Hovell et al (2004) looked closely at 'second-hand smoke' and how it reacted to certain chemicals in the air to become respirable suspended particles that are difficult to filter by the protective mechanisms of the nose and throat. ETS is found to deposit on surfaces such as house dust, carpets, walls, furniture and other household objects. From there, they can be ingested by just about anyone. The main concern of the study however, was to study how it affects infants in households with indoor smokers, outdoor smokers, and a control of non-smokers.
The researchers found households had nicotine in the air of the living room (both in dust and from surfaces) and bedroom for both the indoor and outdoor smoking group. The biggest concern of the researchers was that infants had a higher respiratory rate, lower body weight, and spent more time indoors than adults. They explained this increased their likelihood and effects of exposure to ETS.
The second study looked more in-depth at the chemistry and what happens to nicotine once it had deposited on indoor surfaces (Sleiman & Gundel et al., 2010). They looked specifically at how nicotine reacted with ambient nitrous acid (HONO) to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). (At this point you probably want to stop reading because of all these acronyms but every time I use one, it is to emphasize something terrible).
To save your sanity because I really want to drive home a certain message, I won't detail everything. The basic results of the study found that TSNAs (bad stuff) was found in significant amounts on the interior surface of a truck driven by a heavy smoker. The ETS from sorbed surfaces when exposed to HONO formed extremely carcinogenic TSNAs that were still evident after two-three hours. Exposure of this has many routes including ingestion and inhalation of contaminated dust and skin contact with contaminated surfaces. This again is more dangerous to infants than to adults.
Now that I've got the minor details out of the way. If you've managed to read up to now and considered my personal situation you can see why these studies alarmed me. While I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about health, I honestly did not believe my eyes when I read these articles. To some it might seem like common sense (a friend told me this recently) but it is difficult to know exactly how significant common sense is sometimes. So my warning for those who do smoke and don't wish to give it up, be considerate of where you smoke and how it might affect younger siblings and others.
In part 2 of this, I will try to look more closely at the psychological effects of quitting smoking. Hopefully I can find a few effective ways to help myself and more importantly others who wish to quit.
P.S. I found an interesting poem in the blogosphere about smoking. I have no idea what is says though because it's written in Spanish. While I find this raunchy sketch and the Spanish language extremely sexy, I particularly hate the image of a female smoking. (If you're Spanish, please feel free to translate the poem for me with comments below because Google seems to have failed me for once).
Reference:
Matt, G.E., Quintana, P.E.J., and Hovell, M.F. et al. (2004). Households contaminated by environmental tobacco smoke: sources of infant exposures. Tobacco Control, 13, 29-73.
Sleiman, M., Gundel, L.A., and Pankow, J.F. et al. (2010). Formation of carcinogens indoors by surface-mediated reactions of nicotine with nitrous acid, leading to potential thirdhand smoke hazards. PNAS, 107, 6576-6581.
The study by Matt, Quintana, & Hovell et al (2004) looked closely at 'second-hand smoke' and how it reacted to certain chemicals in the air to become respirable suspended particles that are difficult to filter by the protective mechanisms of the nose and throat. ETS is found to deposit on surfaces such as house dust, carpets, walls, furniture and other household objects. From there, they can be ingested by just about anyone. The main concern of the study however, was to study how it affects infants in households with indoor smokers, outdoor smokers, and a control of non-smokers.
The researchers found households had nicotine in the air of the living room (both in dust and from surfaces) and bedroom for both the indoor and outdoor smoking group. The biggest concern of the researchers was that infants had a higher respiratory rate, lower body weight, and spent more time indoors than adults. They explained this increased their likelihood and effects of exposure to ETS.
The second study looked more in-depth at the chemistry and what happens to nicotine once it had deposited on indoor surfaces (Sleiman & Gundel et al., 2010). They looked specifically at how nicotine reacted with ambient nitrous acid (HONO) to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). (At this point you probably want to stop reading because of all these acronyms but every time I use one, it is to emphasize something terrible).
To save your sanity because I really want to drive home a certain message, I won't detail everything. The basic results of the study found that TSNAs (bad stuff) was found in significant amounts on the interior surface of a truck driven by a heavy smoker. The ETS from sorbed surfaces when exposed to HONO formed extremely carcinogenic TSNAs that were still evident after two-three hours. Exposure of this has many routes including ingestion and inhalation of contaminated dust and skin contact with contaminated surfaces. This again is more dangerous to infants than to adults.
Now that I've got the minor details out of the way. If you've managed to read up to now and considered my personal situation you can see why these studies alarmed me. While I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about health, I honestly did not believe my eyes when I read these articles. To some it might seem like common sense (a friend told me this recently) but it is difficult to know exactly how significant common sense is sometimes. So my warning for those who do smoke and don't wish to give it up, be considerate of where you smoke and how it might affect younger siblings and others.
In part 2 of this, I will try to look more closely at the psychological effects of quitting smoking. Hopefully I can find a few effective ways to help myself and more importantly others who wish to quit.
P.S. I found an interesting poem in the blogosphere about smoking. I have no idea what is says though because it's written in Spanish. While I find this raunchy sketch and the Spanish language extremely sexy, I particularly hate the image of a female smoking. (If you're Spanish, please feel free to translate the poem for me with comments below because Google seems to have failed me for once).
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Reference:
Matt, G.E., Quintana, P.E.J., and Hovell, M.F. et al. (2004). Households contaminated by environmental tobacco smoke: sources of infant exposures. Tobacco Control, 13, 29-73.
Sleiman, M., Gundel, L.A., and Pankow, J.F. et al. (2010). Formation of carcinogens indoors by surface-mediated reactions of nicotine with nitrous acid, leading to potential thirdhand smoke hazards. PNAS, 107, 6576-6581.
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