Tobacco smoke is harmful to health, whether you inhale it or breathe it in the air. Now a new study has gone further, indicating that third-hand smoke, which is the one that accumulates in dust and on the surfaces of tables, sofas or even bedding, could increase the risk of problems in the skin.
These results, which have been published in the journal eBioMedicine, warned that this damage can occur in both smokers and non-smokers, making it potentially dangerous for anyone. The main findings of researchers at the University of California (USA) indicated that close skin contact with third-hand smoke increased biomarkers related to skin diseases such as psoriasis or contact dermatitis.
The research has been carried out on 10 people between 22 and 45 years old who were not smokers, to see the effects of third-hand smoke, each of them wore clothing impregnated with this smoke for three hours. At least 15 minutes out of every hour, participants walked or ran on a treadmill to elicit increased perspiration and thus increase smoke absorption through the skin.
The skin is the largest and most exposed organ
After these tests, urine and blood samples were taken at regular intervals to learn about changes in proteins and markers of oxidative stress caused by third-hand smoke. These tests were done the same in a control group that had worn clothing without this added contamination.
“If you buy a used car that was previously owned by a smoker, you are putting your health at risk. If you go to a casino that allows smoking, you are exposing your skin to third-hand smoke.”
“We found that exposure of human skin to thirdhand smoke initiates inflammatory skin disease mechanisms and elevates urinary biomarkers of oxidative damage, which could lead to other diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and atherosclerosis. Alarmingly, acute dermal exposure to thirdhand smoke mimics the harmful effects of smoking,” said Shane Sakamaki-Ching, one of the study’s authors.
In addition, this increase in urinary biomarkers of oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins remained elevated after exposure to thirdhand smoke ceased. The researchers warn that the skin is the largest organ in contact with third-hand smoke, so it could receive a large amount of this pollutant.
“There is a general lack of knowledge about human health responses to thirdhand smoke exposure. If you buy a used car that was previously owned by a smoker, you are putting your health at risk. If you go to a casino that allows smoking, you are exposing your skin to third-hand smoke. The same applies to staying in a hotel room that was previously occupied by a smoker”, emphasizes Prue Talbot, another of the researchers.
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