Thirdhand Smoke Causes DNA Damage

Yepp, you read the title right. Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that Thirdhand smoke, not just secondhand smoke, can break DNA strands and can cause oxidative damage to a cell's DNA, which can lead to genetic mutations (and as a result, cancer). Thirdhand smoke refers to the residue produced from smoking cigarettes. You know, the nasty smelly stuff that sticks to your clothes, carpet, counters, and well, just about everything! Exposure to these carcinogens can come from not only ingestion and inhalation, but skin contact as well. And even worse? Studies have found this residue isn't easily eradicated, and that with standard cleaning methods, it can take up to two months to completely get rid of the residue.

                               
If you're interested in the science of how smoke residue could damage DNA, one of the more popular residual ingredients, nicotine, is a carcinogen in that it reacts with nitrous acid to produce nitrosamines like N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanal (NNA), which have mutagenic potential and can react with DNA.

People really argue the smoking bans in public places? Is it really okay to put a person's health at risk because of another's bad habit? There is a tremendous amount of evidence that demonstrates smoking can be harmful (in more ways than one, it seems), so why is it even an issue?

This research is just more evidence that smoking around others who choose to avoid the habit are, well, a little inconsiderate.


References: http://mutage.oxfordjournals.org/content/28/4/381