Quantitative research

Some smells seem to seep into everything they touch. Tobacco smoke is one of the worst offenders.

To better understand dermal exposures, Consortium researchers at UC Riverside and UC San Francisco evaluated how NNK and nicotine penetrate through the skin of mice. For that reason, the study included an in vitro assessment. Since we first described this chemistry in 2010, several studies have further illustrated the presence of TSNAs on indoor surfaces and settled dust. But they can also take place via epidermal chemistry, when nicotine already settled on the skin reacts with environmental HONO to form TSNAs right on the body's surface. They found that concentrations of toxic chemicals lingering in indoor environments where cigarettes have been smoked can exceed risk guidelines from the State of California, meaning that non-smokers can be exposed to health risks by living in contaminated spaces. Thirdhand smoke refers to residual nicotine and other hazardous chemicals that contaminate the indoor environment after smoking.