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The proper term to describe what is happening in these photos is thirdhand smoke. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, explains toBored Panda, “Thirdhand smoke is the residue left over from cigarette smoking that sticks to indoor surfaces, even after the smoke is gone.When someone smokes tobacco, even after they are done smoking and the smoke has cleared the room, chemicals and toxins from the smoke could become embedded in clothing or furniture, or could mix with dust and land on hard surfaces, like countertops.”
The proper term to describe what is happening in these photos is thirdhand smoke. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, explains toBored Panda, “Thirdhand smoke is the residue left over from cigarette smoking that sticks to indoor surfaces, even after the smoke is gone.
When someone smokes tobacco, even after they are done smoking and the smoke has cleared the room, chemicals and toxins from the smoke could become embedded in clothing or furniture, or could mix with dust and land on hard surfaces, like countertops.”
“This is different from firsthand and secondhand smoke, which refers to the smoke itself that’s inhaled, either directly from a cigarette (firsthand smoke) or from being near someone smoking a cigarette (secondhand smoke),” Jamie further tells us.
The last change was about a year ago. The air coming through the vents made me want to gag. If you smoke in your car, I highly recommend checking the filter every few weeks. Never let it get this bad. Alternatively, don’t smoke in your car, and this won’t be an issue.
Even though people aren’t inhaling smoke directly or from being near it, thirdhand smoke still poses a threat to those around it. “Some of the chemicals found in third-hand smoke are known to causecancer,” says Jamie.
“Scientists and public health experts are particularly concerned about young children’s exposure to third-hand smoke, as they tend to spend a lot of time indoors, and often put things in their mouths,” she adds.
The chemicals from insidesmokingare known to remain in spaces that have been heavily smoked in for years. Professor Georg Matt of San Diego State Universitytold Medical News Todaythat their team even found harmful residue in a person’s apartment who had quit heavy smoking 9 years ago.
However, brief visits to smoker’s homes or public spaces where smoking is allowed shouldn’t cause a lot of worry. Researchers calculated the daily dose from inhaling or ingesting chemicals from thirdhand smoke, which comes to an insignificant amount if we divide it over the years, explains Dr. Hugo Destaillats.
Something that’s a bit more unsettling is the fact that the chemicals from thirdhand smoke can’t really be removed from homes or surfaces without renovations. “Good ventilation, hand washing, frequent laundering of clothes and soft furnishings, and thorough cleaning might help reduce some thirdhand smoke residues, but none can remove all the chemicals from third-hand smoke,” says Jamie. “To avoid potential harm from third-hand smoke, the most important thing is not to smoke indoors or in cars in the first place.”
The previous owner smoked a lot in the basement/workshop. The cabinet white spots are clean spots where I took down some old signs and posters for reference. The second picture is after scrubbing, sanding, and painting the cabinet (the lighting doesn’t do it justice).
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My neighbor gave me a huge collection of classic games and consoles. She wants to sell it all and split the profits with me. These consoles sat out in a living room for many years with three smokers. There’s heavy UV discoloration and nicotine stains. The SNES and N64 controllers have already been covered with vinegar and a magic eraser. Any tips on getting them to look better?If it weren’t for the nicotine staining, this stuff would be in almost perfect condition. A few dozen Nintendo Power magazines and guides came with the pile of games and consoles.
I recently received my late father’s chessboard and pieces. However, over a decade’s worth of cigarette tar has accumulated on the surfaces due to my grandmother’s bad habit of smoking indoors. The pieces are wood and metal, and the board is wood with a polymer sheet protecting the surface. The polymer is cracked in several places. I hope some of you might have tips for cleaning or restoring this to a condition in which I can play it without wearing gloves. Currently, the resin sticks to my fingers after touching the pieces only once or twice.
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