When a person smokes or vapes, they inhale the chemicals in the product. People around the smoke or vaper are also exposed to those chemicals. This exposure is called environmental tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke.
Even after a person stops smoking or vaping, some of the chemicals released can remain indoors for a long time. These chemicals can build up on hard surfaces such as walls, tables and floors, and embed in soft surfaces like clothing, upholstery, drapes, bedding and carpets. In some cases, these chemicals can be released back into the air, leading to thirdhand exposure. People experience thirdhand exposure when they touch contaminated surfaces or breathe the air where smoking or vaping chemicals are released from surfaces back into the air. Getting rid of it is really hard and can cost a lot of money.
Secondhand smoke can cause cancer and serious respiratory illnesses and trigger asthma. Vapor emitted from e-cigarettes and other vaping devices contains cancer-causing agents, heavy metals, and ultrafine particles. Children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke. It can cause or worsen asthma symptoms and is linked to increased risks of ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The only way to eliminate exposure to smoke and vapors is to prohibit smoking and vaping indoors. Encourage family members to quit smoking and vaping. Doing so will help protect occupants from exposure to the harmful chemicals these products may release.
The Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention program can help you find services to help people quit smoking and education on protecting people from secondhand smoke.