Justice minister discusses ways to enhance cooperation with UN Resident Coordinator    Saudi FM meets his British, German counterparts in Riyadh    Al Hilal thrash Al Orobah 5-0 to reclaim Roshn Saudi League top spot    Al Ittihad held to 1-1 draw by Al Fayha, lose Saudi League top spot    Al Orobah sign Saudi Pro League's all-time top scorer Omar Al Somah    Al-Falih: 571 global companies moved their headquarters to Saudi Arabia    Riyadh meetings discuss rebuilding Syria as a unified state for all its citizens, with no place for terrorism Call for immediate Israeli withdrawal from occupied Syrian territories    Saudi FM: Continuing sanctions will obstruct Syrian people's development ambitions Top Arab, Western diplomats discuss on supporting Syria and lifting sanctions    Israel approves troop withdrawal plans from Gaza: Report    Almarai successfully deploys SAP solutions to power strategic expansion Seamless implementation via RISE with SAP on Google Cloud supports company's SR18 billion growth plan    Los Angeles wildfires death toll rises to 16 as blazes rage on    Lebanese army completes deployment in southern towns as Israeli forces withdraw    SR10 million bank guarantee and SR100 million paid-up capital required to obtain 10-year license for a recruitment company    Over 16 million people visit Riyadh Season in 3 months    Al-Ahli defeats Al-Shabab 3-2 in Saudi Pro League thriller    SFDA warns of potential risks associated with high doses of Ginseng    Al-Qaryan Group begins 125,000 m2 decommissioning project for Ibn Rushd in Yanbu    Oscar nominations postponed because of LA fires    Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 to witness first-ever display of full kiswah of Kaaba outside Makkah city    Demi Moore continues comeback with Golden Globe win    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









Another smoking hazard,‘ third-hand' smoke
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 04 - 2012

hand smoking wasn't enough to deteriorate a person's health, a few recent studies show that third-hand smoking is also very dangerous and has its own set of hazards.
Third-hand smoke is the nicotine residue that is left behind on furniture, walls and carpeting after a cigarette has been smoked in a room, which becomes airborne a second time. It is an unintentional intake of harmful chemicals.
Some people think that smoking in another section of the house or away from people can reduce its harmful side effects, but it does not. In fact, even after opening windows getting rid of third-hand smoke is difficult because the smoke residue lurks in one's clothes, hair and hand, apart from lingering in the air and clinging to things in and around the room. Experts believe that second-hand smoke is six to 12 times more dangerous than smoking, but the risk of third-hand smoke is considerably larger because it stays for a very long period of time. Hence, this poses as another major health-threat for children and others living in the house or at work.
According to statistics compiled by Ministry of Health's Tobacco Control Department and the World Health Organization in 2007 confirmed that 27.7 percent of adolescents have tried smoking at some point in their lives.
In addition, 8.7 percent have smoked Hookah pipes and 8.6 percent have smoked cigarettes. The survey also reveals that 29.4 percent lived at home with smokers and 24 percent had one or both parents smoking. However, 73 percent people believe that smoking should be banned in public places.
A mother of a four-year-old told the Saudi Gazette, that, “Shisha and cigarettes are now banned in my house and I usually ask people not to smoke around my kids or touch them after smoking. People think it is crazy, but that's because they do not think it is harmful. It is selfish to enjoy a smoke and hurt other people's health, especially that of children.”
She wasn't aware of third-hand smoke's side effects until she found out from a doctor the reason behind her child's severe cough. She also said that she felt sorry for those children whose parents smoke in front of them in their cars and at homes.
Dr. Jamal Abdullah Basahi said that there are no statistics about third-hand smoking and that it is a mix of toxics that are left on clothes, hair, furniture and tools. “Smoking away from children does not keep them safe. The smoker should at least spend an hour in fresh air to prevent others from inhaling third-hand smoke, which is dangerous for babies and could lead to chest diseases and other allergies,” said Basahi. He advices people not to smoke, especially in cars which are small and where smoke can be intensive. __


Clic here to read the story from its source.