Many people are aware of the dangers of "first-hand smoke" and "second-hand smoke", so when smoking, they deliberately avoid children and pregnant women. If they become addicted to smoking at home, they go to the hallway or balcony to smoke. But you know what? As long as you are still smoking, another more terrible form of pollution - "third-hand smoke" will quietly endanger the health of people around you! What is "third-hand smoke"? "Third-hand smoke" refers to the residues of tobacco smoke left on the surfaces of clothing, walls, carpets, curtains, leather, furniture, even hair and skin after smokers "smoke", which is the most widespread indoor air pollution at present. Wang Rui, deputy chief physician of the Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: "Smokers inhale first-hand smoke; people around them inhale second-hand smoke; besides being inhaled, these smoke will also be adsorbed on human skin, hair, clothes, go home with us, and then stick to the walls, carpets and other items at home. This is third-hand smoke." Why is "third-hand smoke" more terrible? 1、 The main chemical components of third hand smoke that have been harmful for a long time include nicotine, hydrocyanic acid, lead, arsenic, and many volatile organic compounds. The third-hand smoke attached to the surface of the object will stay for several days, even months. Under some environmental and behavioral conditions (such as sorting clothes), it may also be re released into the indoor air and react with the chemical pollutants in the air to generate new toxic components of third-hand smoke. For example, nicotine reacts chemically with nitrous acid in the air to produce carcinogens, and household gas is the main source of nitrous acid in indoor air. 2、 Intangible third-hand smoke is everywhere. If you say that the first hand smoke hurts you, the second hand smoke hurts people around you, and the invisible third-hand smoke is everywhere, harming others and yourself. Smokers' homes and public places such as Internet cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels and concert halls are often the "hardest hit areas" of third-hand smoke cigarettes. Although public places have designated smoking areas, smoke can easily spread through doors, windows, corridors, ventilation systems, and adhere to the surface of smokers' clothing, hair, and skin, leading to contamination of non-smoking areas. In addition, family cars of smokers and public transport vehicles such as taxis are also heavily polluted areas of third-hand smoke smoke, because the carriage is a relatively closed small environment with a high surface space ratio, which is easier to absorb and retain smoke residues for a long time. Even if people do not smoke, after being exposed to second-hand smoke, they will also bring the third-hand smoke attached to their bodies back home, endangering the health of their relatives. 3、 It can be absorbed through the skin and is easily ignored. Unlike primary smoke and secondary smoke, which are mainly inhaled through the respiratory tract, third-hand smoke can harm human health through a variety of ways, including inhalation into the lungs through the respiratory tract, or ingestion through the hand mouth route after contact with the surface of contaminated objects, or even absorption into the body through the skin. Its health hazards are no less than primary smoke and secondary smoke. Research shows that third-hand smoke can induce inflammation in the respiratory tract and the whole body, cause abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein, damage the immune function of the body, endanger the reproductive health of women of childbearing age, and affect the growth and development of offspring. In addition, third-hand smoke contains a variety of carcinogenic ingredients, and long-term exposure may increase the risk of lung cancer and other diseases. 4、 Infants are more vulnerable to third-hand smoke. Infants are the most vulnerable to third-hand smoke. Infants like to touch carpets, sofas and other objects with their hands when crawling or playing. Their skin is easily infected with third-hand smoke, and they also ingest smoke residues through habitual eating of hands. Compared with adults, infants and young children breathe faster and are more likely to inhale more harmful substances. However, their immune system is not fully developed and their metabolic ability to harmful substances is poor. Therefore, infants and young children are more vulnerable to the harm of third-hand smoke. In addition, when we clean our clothes and houses, third-hand smoke will be suspended in the air again, so housewives and hotel attendants are often the main victims of third-hand smoke. How to avoid the harm of "third-hand smoke"? Unfortunately, some common methods such as ventilation, dust collection and air purifier cannot effectively eliminate indoor third-hand smoke smoke. The most effective measure to prevent third-hand smoke pollution is to strictly ban smoking in homes, cars and public places. Parents who smoke should avoid smoking at home or in their cars. After smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, they should not come into direct contact with infants and young children. They should take a shower and change clothes in a timely manner; Curtains, sofas, carpets, wallpapers, and other areas in smokers' homes that are prone to absorbing residual smoke should be cleaned and replaced frequently; Try to choose "no smoking" restaurants and other indoor places when going out to reduce the probability of exposure to tobacco. Wang Rui introduced that whether you open a window, turn on a fan, or smoke outdoors, it is not enough to prevent third-hand smoke. "Third-hand smoke will not disappear because it is not smoked at home. The most effective way to protect family members from the harm of tobacco is not to smoke, and smokers should quit smoking as soon as possible." (Lixin News Agency)