Did you ever enter a room and wonder why it smelled like a dirty ashtray when there wasn't a cigarette in sight?
Even if you choose to smoke outside of your home, or only smoke in your home when your children are not there, you're still exposing them to toxins, the researchers called "third-hand" smoke.
When you smoke, toxic particulate matter from tobacco smoke gets into your hair and clothing. When you come into contact with your baby, your child comes in contact with those toxins, even if you're not smoking at the time.
By now most everyone is aware of the risks of second-hand smoke. Children who grow up with smokers in their homes are three times more likely to develop lung cancer in their later years than those children who come from non-smoking homes. And children who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis and other lung diseases, while those who have asthma and who breathe second-hand smoke have more asthma attacks.
Babies crawl on carpets, sleep on couches, and teeth on household and other porous objects, all of which may be invisibly dirtied with third-hand smoke toxins. The sick and elderly, both with compromised immune systems. Children are at most risk from third hand smoke - which sticks to DNA and can cause cancerous tumors - as, due to their small size, are more vulnerable to effects of the substance.
ATTN: Smokers, save your lungs AND your wallet!
To help minimize their risks while you’re getting healthy and working your way up to quitting smoking, you can:
• Smoke only outdoors (this will prevent a large share of smoke particles from settling into your home or car)
• Change your clothes after smoking, and wash your clothing right away, or at the very least air it out outside thoroughly
• Wash your hands after smoking
• Ideally, wash your hair after you smoke, especially if you have an infant that will be in close proximity to you
• Use a high-quality air purifier in your home to help remove excess toxins