When people who don’t smoke are exposed to SHS it’s called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. When you breathe in SHS, you take in nicotine and toxic chemicals the same way people who smoke do. The more SHS you breathe, the higher the levels of these harmful chemicals in your body.
There’s very little research so far on whether lingering tobacco smoke odors or residuals from it on surfaces can cause cancer in people. Research does show that particles from secondhand tobacco smoke can settle in dust and on surfaces and remain there long after the smoke is gone. Some studies suggest the particles can last for months.
Particles that settle out from tobacco smoke have been shown to combine with gases in the air to form cancer-causing compounds that settle onto surfaces. For instance, some of the carcinogens that are known to cause lung cancer have been found in dust samples taken from the homes of people who smoke. Research has also shown that thirdhand smoke can damage human DNA in cell cultures and might increase lung cancer risk in lab animals.
Many US local and state governments, and even federal governments in some other countries, have decided that protecting the health of employees and others in public places is of the utmost importance and have passed clean indoor air laws. Although the laws vary from place to place, they are becoming more common. You don’t have to wait for the government to act. Even if you smoke, you can decide to make your home and car smoke-free. This is the safest thing to do for your children, other family members, pets, and guests.
