The DeCarlo group’s work on third hand smoke in non-smoking environments was just published in Science Advances. During this work, we found that third-hand smoke, or the residue of cigarette smoke left behind on surfaces, can contribute a significant fraction of the indoor aerosol measured in a non-smoking class room! A video summary of this work is here:
Some additional reading from the popular press here:
Washington Post: Thirdhand smoke is widespread and may be dangerous, mounting evidence shows
NPR: Tobacco Smoke Residue Can Become Airborne Again Indoors
LA Times: This room was off-limits to smokers, but its air contained surprising amounts of ‘thirdhand smoke’
Canadian Broadcast Corporation: ‘Third hand smoke’ can leap from clothes and surfaces into the air you breathe
