Written by: Jasmine Biju
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Lohi Pratti
Third-hand smoke is the leftover nicotine and other various chemicals that remain on surfaces, clothing, and skin that comes from tobacco. It has been proven by several research conductions that an individual who enters a room in which no one has smoked in can still be exposed to harmful chemicals that make up tobacco smoke, as a result of others who have visited the room previously. When exposed to particles of third-hand smoke, it has been shown that there is an increase in biomarkers associated with certain skin diseases. A biomarker is a quantitative amount of a substance that indicates the presence of a certain disease or condition.
A team of researchers from the University of California, Riverside, has discovered the link between exposure to third-hand smoke and a higher risk of having skin diseases such as psoriasis and dermatitis. Specifically, they found that chemical elements of third-hand smoke that are exposed to the skin induce mechanisms associated with skin inflammation. In their investigation, the team dermally exposed individuals to third-hand smoke to determine the outcome.
In the clinical study, 10 healthy individuals who had not smoked tobacco wore clothing that was infused with third-hand smoke. The participants then proceeded to exercise for 15 minutes to speed up the uptake process. After this, blood and urine samples were collected in order to examine for changes in biological markers, such as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals, highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules, and antioxidants, molecules that help stabilize free radicals. Free radicals are harmful in most cases as they alter proteins, lipids, and genetic material. Additionally, in the experiment, there were control participants who wore normal clothing.
The findings were that the participants that wore THC-infused clothing had an elevated level of the biomarker of oxidative stress. This elevation is comparable to that of actual cigarette smokers. These findings are important as they may contribute to the development of new policies that deal with indoor environments that display high levels of THC.
THS, an indoor secondary pollutant, can be further understood with “the four r’s.” 1. It remains a residue on the smoker’s body. 2. It reacts with chemicals in the air to create more toxins. 3. It re-emits (i.e. the generation of the toxins can result in it them being re-released into the air, creating a cycle). 4. THS can be resuspended long after smoke has entered the body through inhalation, hand-to-mouth, and skin absorption. Thus, THS harms both smokers and non-smokers.
Due to a reduction in collagen in the tissues, THS may also cause poor wound healing
in the skin, similar to the effects of active smoking. Additionally, THS exposure in animals has been associated with hyperactivity. While everyone can be harmed by THS, Children are particularly vulnerable, as they have thinner skin than adults. Compared to non-exposed children, exposed children often exhibit a greater frequency of specific symptoms, like cough and sputum. It is important to raise public awareness of THS because it is ultimately man-made pollution brought on by cigarette smoking, which can help people avoid or limit their exposure to THS.
The skin is the largest organ in the body and therefore is greatly exposed to third-hand smoke. As demonstrated by the study, short exposure to THC still contributes to an elevation of biomarkers that indicate the early-stage development of skin conditions. While smoking tobacco has potent implications in itself, being exposed to the chemical elements of this smoke also has its own side effects.
References:
“Indoor Secondary Pollutants Cannot Be Ignored: Third-Hand Smoke.” NCBI, 30 June 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9316611/. Accessed 19 March 2023.
Legg, Timothy J. “Oxidative Stress: Definition, Effects on the Body, and Prevention.” Healthline, 13 December 2017, https://www.healthline.com/health/oxidative-stress. Accessed 19 March 2023.
Nield, David. “Third-Hand Smoke Lingering on Surfaces May Trigger Skin Disease, Scientists Warn.” ScienceAlert, 8 November 2022, https://www.sciencealert.com/third-hand-smoke-lingering-on-surfaces-may-trigger-skin-disease-scientists-warn. Accessed 19 March 2023.
Pittalwala, Iqbal. “Thirdhand smoke can trigger skin diseases | News.” UCR News, 11 October 2022, https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2022/10/11/thirdhand-smoke-can-trigger-skin-diseases. Accessed 19 March 2023.
“Thirdhand Smoke: New Evidence, Challenges, and Future Directions.” PubMed, 17 January 2017, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28001376/. Accessed 18 March 2023.
“Thirdhand Smoke: State of the Science and a Call for Policy Expansion.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4765971/. Accessed 18 March 2023.
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