Third Hand Smoke Dangerous!

You probably read this and had the same reaction I did when I read this NY Times article tonight. What the heck is 'third-hand smoke?'"

"That’s the term being used to describe the invisible yet toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, not to mention cushions and carpeting, that lingers long after smoke has cleared from a room. The residue includes heavy metals, carcinogens and even radioactive materials that young children can get on their hands and ingest, especially if they’re crawling or playing on the floor."

Here's the link to the article I culled this quote from:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03
/health/research/03smoke.html?em.

We know that smoking kills those addicted to the cancer sticks. We know that it kills those around them. Logic could carry on to say that being around the chemicals that stick to things long after the smoke seems to have settled will still be dangerous. Well, now, researchers have supported this. If you smoke, you are killing those around you. If you are around someone who has been smoking, and you can perceive it, you are perceiving third-hand smoke and being poisoned. Does this mean we should shun smokers? No. We should love them, and encourage them to stop smoking. Does "encourage them to stop smoking" mean put up with them smoking around us? No. Does this mean educating them about what they are really doing to those around them? Definitely. And this now means that they are hurting you by having smoked and bringing those chemicals into your home on their clothes. We can tell them that we want them around, but not the toxins they soak in. Smokers are people too, so this should be handled with care, love, and respect.

So - here's where it gets controversial, and perhaps a bit rude. I warned you. And yes, this is a continuation of a conversation I had with a smoker who is a friend of mine.

If you smoke around my children, be prepared to be bawled out. I will not put up with it. I have permanent respiratory problems due to being around smokers frequently during my childhood. I am also extraordinarily susceptible to respiratory illnesses. I spend more than half the year (spread out) with a cough, sinus infection, and/or chest congestion. Doctors can't seem to beat it.

Perhaps my bawling you out will be seen as an act of disrespect. Well, no, it's really just that I respect my family's health more than your egotistic desire to have another smoke, whatever the costs. And this egocentricity seems to extend to "don't confuse me with the facts." Smokers don't seem to like the facts when presented with them. 

Truth may not be fun. Deal with it. You choose it every day by lighting up. Don't excuse yourself - just try again to do better than yesterday - a cigarette less daily this week than last week. And if you think I don't understand addiction, guess again. I understand better than you might think - I just keep it rather private. And I know it can be beaten. There is hope!

Someone tried to tell me that my respiratory issues are due to my lack of exercise, or something, anything--else. Try again! Perhaps try accepting some responsibility that you hurt other people when you smoke. Don't try to salve your conscience by telling me that my respiratory problems are due to the pollution caused by cars driving down the street. And for the record, the toxins coming out of your cigarette are far worse than those coming out of my tailpipe. Cars have emissions controls - cigarettes don't. Sorry, that's a poor argument.

And no, science is not divided on this issue. You may find some non-peer-reviewed article that says that smoking is not harmful to you, or perhaps it may say that smoking is not harmful to those around smokers. Good luck finding a peer-reviewed (and thus credible, acknowledged and screened in the scientific community) that spouts such "information".