The risk of cancer from thirdhand smoke has been raised in a new study sounding the alarm about the long-term health problems from tobacco chemicals lingering indoors.
Like secondhand smoke, thirdhand smoke - when nicotine and other hazardous chemicals contaminate settings inside - is also a major health hazard. You'll recognise it as the lingering smell of someone who smokes a pack a day or from the odour seeped into a smoke-friendly hotel room.
These settings can harm non-smokers and, over time, exposure can lead to a higher risk of cancer. According to a new study, skin contact was found to 'significantly' contribute to cancer-causing compounds in the body at a rate equal or even higher than inhalation.