New study says that third hand smoking is as bad as second hand smoking

A new study has found that third hand smoking is just as bad as or worse than second hand smoking. Smokers have soot and leftover particles stuck on to their clothes, vehicles or rooms. Non-smokers who come within proximity of smokers or spaces inhabited by them might end up inhaling these particles which in turn will cause adverse effects to their health. Public areas which are enclosed like theatres may hold remnants from smoking.

"People are substantial carriers of thirdhand smoke contaminants to other environments. We were surprised by the wide array of hazardous volatile organic compounds that were off-gassing from the audience -- including some that are known to be known carcinogens in people, such as benzene and formaldehyde. The chemical reactions can create potentially harmful by-products that can become airborne," said study author Drew Gentner, an associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering at Yale.

This experiment was conducted by studying the air quality at a theater that has not admitted smoking for over fifteen years. The results were studied in order to reach a consensus about the traveling of the particles in a closed room.