Experimental Acute Exposure to Thirdhand Smoke and Changes in the Human Nasal Epithelial Transcriptome
Giovanna L. Pozuelos, Meenakshi S. Kagda, Suzaynn Schick, Thomas Girke, David C. Volz, Prue Talbot. Experimental Acute Exposure to Thirdhand Smoke and Changes in the Human Nasal Epithelial Transcriptome. JAMA Network Open, 2019; 2 (6): e196362 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.6362
“Our data show that cells in humans are affected by thirdhand smoke,” said Prue Talbot, a professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, who led the research. “The health effects of THS, have been studied in cultured cells and animal models, but this is the first study to show a direct effect of thirdhand smoke on gene expression in humans.”
“Thirdhand smoke, or THS, results when exhaled smoke and smoke emanating from the tip of burning cigarettes settles on surfaces such as clothing, hair, furniture, and cars. Not strictly smoke, THS refers to the residues left behind by smoking. The lead author of the study stated, “It has not been widely studied, which may explain why no regulations are in place to protect nonsmokers from it.”
