Second hand and third-hand smoke

[mindstalk]

Study of Pueblo, CO over three years after a smoking ban finds a big drop in heart attacks; this is attributed to the effects of secondhand smoke, though a skeptical doctor is found to quote. The CDC apparently attributes 3000 lung cancer deaths and 46,000 heart disease deaths per year to secondhand smoke (out of the 440,000 total deaths due to smoking.)

And we've got a new worry, third hand smoke, toxic combustion products accumulated on surfaces, where small children and play with and ingest them. Though the articles aren't about actual health studies, but about a survey of attitudes regarding third hand smoke, which seems weird since I'd never heard of it. But I guess it's been around for a while, at least 2006. Also < href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-08-06-thirdhand-smoke-usat_x.htm">this. Hmm, my parents were heavy smokers (the living room walls went from white to a dark yellow) and I was a bookish child who didn't get out much, and sickly.

Secondhand smoke dangers. And the Mayo Clinic. More.

Tangentially, blood sugar and memory declines.

Comments

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

Hmm, my parents were heavy smokers (the living room walls went from white to a dark yellow) and I was a bookish child who didn't get out much, and sickly.

mine too when I was leetle, and there are stories of me eating cigarette butts.

[angry-geologist.livejournal.com]

You know, I didn't think of that, but that makes a ton of sense. A lot of the really harmful stuff in smoke is embedded in the tar, and if that gets stuck to a surface it's a bear to get off, as I'm sure anyone who has moved into a smokers' former apartment knows well.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

I find myself more sympathetic to smoking bans, even ones like IU's recent ban of all smoking on campus. Not just in campus buildings, but even outside of them, which I thought was onerous. Actually, I still do, because hey, addiction, and while the articles describe fast actions of smoke, I don't think they're as fast as walking quickly through a cloud holding your breath. But still, pretty toxic.

[love]

Phew. *winces* Thanks for the links.