Tobacco.org

Cigarette smoke can cling, be dangerous for months 

Smokers who air out their homes after lighting up or drivers who roll their windows down to take a puff while on the road might think they are being smart about their smoking habit, but a team of Berkeley researchers found that third-hand smoke -- smoke that clings to surfaces long after cigarettes have been crushed -- has long-lasting and dangerous consequences.

The study released Monday by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that third-hand smoke is especially dangerous when nicotine comes into contact with a common indoor pollutant typically found in household gas appliances. Vehicle engines also emit the same toxin.

The combination clings to walls, floors, carpets, drapes and other furniture and can last for days, weeks or months, the study concluded.

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