Third Hand Smoke Danger

I recently read a small article about third hand smoke and babies and it makes me nervous! "Third-hand smoke is tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette has been extinguished," says Jonathan Winickoff, a pediatrician at the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Bostonand author of a study on the new phenomenon published in the journal Pediatrics. Basically it's what's left over on the smoker's skin, clothing and surroundings. These things, including the smoker actually emit toxins.

Anyone who comes in contact with this third hand smoke are effected. There are 250 poisonous toxins in cigarette smoke and all are left on skin and surfaces. The developing brain is extremely susceptible to these toxins and make children and infants 20 more susceptible to these toxins.

Any child who is held by someone who has smoked has nicotine, among other toxins, being leached into their skin. Studies have also proved that it is transferred into breast milk by smoking mothers.

I believe it is important for every family to know the risks of third hand smoke. Opening a window or turning on a fan does not help. Neither does washing. Smoke has leached into the smoker's hands that

does not wash out. It also is transferred to infants. I'm super nervous because my mother in law just visited us and held Baby J. She is a smoker and each time I got him back from her, he smelled like smoke. Makes me sad...