You have heard how smoking can negatively affect your pregnancy by
causing birth defects and nearly doubling your risk for preterm birth. You may also know about the
harmful effects of secondhand smoke on your
health and that of your children.
What is thirdhand smoke?
Thirdhand smoke is the residual
chemicals and nicotine left on surfaces by tobacco smoke. The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) states that a few days or weeks after a cigarette is smoked,
particles remain on all types of surfaces. Thirdhand smoke can be found
anywhere – on the walls, carpets, bedding, seats of a car, your clothing, and
even in your child’s skin and hair. Long after someone has stopped smoking,
thirdhand smoke is present. Infants and children can inhale, ingest and touch
things that result in exposure to these highly toxic particles.
Thirdhand smoke can
be just as harmful as secondhand smoke and can lead to significant
health risks. The AAP says that children
exposed to smoke are at increased risk for multiple serious health effects
including asthma, respiratory infections, decreased lung growth, and sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The residue left from smoking builds
up over time. Airing out rooms or opening windows will not get rid of the
residue. In addition, confining smoking to only one area of the home or outside
will not prevent your child from being exposed to thirdhand smoke.
There are ways you can limit or
prevent thirdhand smoke. AAP recommends:
• Hire only non-smoking
babysitters and caregivers.
• If smokers visit your home,
store their belongings out of your child’s reach.
• Never smoke in your child’s
presence or in areas where they spend time, including your home and car.
• If you smoke, try to quit.
Speak with your child’s pediatrician or your own health care provider to learn
about resources and support.
The only way to fully protect
against thirdhand smoke is to create a smoke-free environment. For more
information on how to quit smoking, visit http://smokefree.gov/.
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