Thirdhand smoke, while still a new concept, is everywhere. It lingers on furniture, curtains, carpet, and other areas where a smoker stayed, long after he or she has left the place. Thirdhand smoke is especially heavy in casinos, where the smell of tobacco from smoking guests are more concentrated because it is confined indoors.
A new study showed that years of smoking in casinos lead to a heavy buildup of thirdhand smoke on walls, furniture, and carpets in a Northern Carolina casino.
The residue level dropped after smoking was prohibited. But six months later, the tobacco level remained high, not only in the casino, but in other places where people inhaled large amounts of nicotine.
Researchers who took surface samples of select areas in the casino and examined the fingers and urine of non-smokers who went there had bad news. They found out that nonsmokers inhaled more thirdhand smoke in the casino than those who lived with smokers.
This finding raises concerns about the health and well-being of casino employees who make a living out of staying there eight hours a day. High rollers who can't resist the lure of the casino face the same problem.
This makes it even more important for casino owners to change carpets, furniture, wallpaper, drapes, curtains, and others regularly to save employees and guests from thirdhand smoke. Tobacco becomes even more harmful because it stays indoors instead of escaping in the air and sparing casino workers and guests.
The same principle applies at home, where children are at great risk from smoking parents. A child breathes faster, so they stand to inhale more harmful chemicals.
Therefore, step outside or stay outdoors if you feel like lighting a cigarette.
What smoking does
Scientists agree that smoking is hazardous to the health. That's because smoking leads to:
- Anxiety and irritabiity
- Smelly hair
- Unhealthy teeth
- Bronchitis
- Persistent cough
- Heart ailments
- Early menopause
- Poor eyesight
- Dull sense of smell and taste
- Lung cancer
- Constricted blood vessels
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Appetite loss
- Yellow fingers
- Cervical cancer
- Infertility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Blood clotting
- Miscarriage
- Health problems in newborns
- Fetal death
- Diabetes complication
- Infections in the respiratory tract
- Higher risk of blood, mouth, throat, bladder, and kidney cancer
- Wrinkles
Protecting your lungs
It becomes even more necessary for you to protect your lungs if you smoke, or are on the receiving end of second or thirdhand smoke. Here are some tips.
- Don't limber up outdoors when the air is filled with pollutants. You'll just inhale harmful substances.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Use alcohol if this isn't possible.
- Brush your teeth twice a day and visit your dentist every six months to keep germs in your mouth from making you sick.
- Stay home and don't spread infection when you're sick.
- Get regular medical checkups.
- Exercise often to boost lung capacity. Ask your doctor about breathing exercises that helps your lungs. This will also relax you and lift your spirits.
Your lungs let life-giving oxygen into your body and keep it alive. They also expel carbon dioxide to rid our body of harmful substances. Taking care of them will make us enjoy everything life has to offer.
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