Assessing the Effectiveness of Home Smoking Bans in Reducing Indoor Thirdhand Smoke and Children’s Exposure Risk
1
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
2
School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
3
Health Education Institute, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A439
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Thirdhand smoke (THS), a persistent and hidden form of tobacco residue, poses a serious threat to children's health. While home smoking bans are known to reduce secondhand smoke exposure, their effectiveness against indoor THS pollution remains insufficiently evaluated. This study aims to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of home smoking bans in reducing indoor THS pollution and children's exposure risks.
METHODS:
We enrolled 227 households with children, categorizing them into four groups: non-smoker households with a home smoking ban (NB), non-smoker households permitting smoking (NP), smoker households with a home smoking ban (SB), and smoker households permitting smoking (SP). We measured levels of THS markers—nicotine, N′-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN), and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)—in indoor environments (airborne particulate matter, surface wipe samples, and towels), along with biomarkers (nicotine, cotinine, trans-3’-hydroxycotinine (3HC), and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL)) in children's urine.
RESULTS:
Concentrations of all environmental and internal THS markers followed the order: SP > SB > NP > NB. In the NP group, nicotine and NNK levels on hard surfaces (wipe samples) were significantly higher than in the NB group (P<0.05). Towels from children's rooms in the SP group contained significantly higher levels of nicotine, NNN, and NNK than those in the SB group (P<0.05). The presence of smokers combined with the absence of a home smoking ban significantly increased THS marker levels in all environmental samples (towels, wipes, particulate matter) and in children's urine (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that household smoking significantly elevated nicotine and cotinine in children's urine, NNN in wipe samples, and NNK in particulate matter. Home smoking bans effectively reduced cotinine and 3HC in children's urine, as well as THS markers in towels and wipe samples.
CONCLUSIONS:
Home smoking bans play a positive role in mitigating indoor THS pollution and minimizing the risk of children's exposure.
Thirdhand smoke (THS), a persistent and hidden form of tobacco residue, poses a serious threat to children's health. While home smoking bans are known to reduce secondhand smoke exposure, their effectiveness against indoor THS pollution remains insufficiently evaluated. This study aims to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of home smoking bans in reducing indoor THS pollution and children's exposure risks.
METHODS:
We enrolled 227 households with children, categorizing them into four groups: non-smoker households with a home smoking ban (NB), non-smoker households permitting smoking (NP), smoker households with a home smoking ban (SB), and smoker households permitting smoking (SP). We measured levels of THS markers—nicotine, N′-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN), and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)—in indoor environments (airborne particulate matter, surface wipe samples, and towels), along with biomarkers (nicotine, cotinine, trans-3’-hydroxycotinine (3HC), and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL)) in children's urine.
RESULTS:
Concentrations of all environmental and internal THS markers followed the order: SP > SB > NP > NB. In the NP group, nicotine and NNK levels on hard surfaces (wipe samples) were significantly higher than in the NB group (P<0.05). Towels from children's rooms in the SP group contained significantly higher levels of nicotine, NNN, and NNK than those in the SB group (P<0.05). The presence of smokers combined with the absence of a home smoking ban significantly increased THS marker levels in all environmental samples (towels, wipes, particulate matter) and in children's urine (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that household smoking significantly elevated nicotine and cotinine in children's urine, NNN in wipe samples, and NNK in particulate matter. Home smoking bans effectively reduced cotinine and 3HC in children's urine, as well as THS markers in towels and wipe samples.
CONCLUSIONS:
Home smoking bans play a positive role in mitigating indoor THS pollution and minimizing the risk of children's exposure.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
