Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Hoh E, Zakarian JM, Dodder NG, Record RA, Hovell MF, Mahabee-Gittens EM, Padilla S, Markman L, Watanabe K, Novotny TE. Persistent Tobacco Smoke Residue in Multiunit Housing: Legacy of Permissive Indoor Smoking Policies and Challenges in the Implementation of Smoking Bans. Preventive Medicine Reports. Available online 2 April 2020, 101088.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335520300486
Summary Points:
- Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the toxic residue that accumulates in indoor environments where tobacco had previously been used that are frequented by smokers.
- THS was detected in all nonsmoker and smoker homes in multiunit housing.
- One in ten homes of nonsmokers with smoking bans showed nicotine levels higher than average levels found in smoker homes from previous studies (>30µg/m2).
- Current smoking bans do not protect units from THS pollution that accumulated during periods when smoking was permitted.
- To create home environments that are 100% free of tobacco smoke pollutants, attention should be given to implementing effective building-wide smoking bans and to identifying and remediating highly polluted units.
Stephen Hamann
