Necessity of Research on Thirdhand Smoke for Maternal and Child Health

Choe,  Jin Ho; Han,  Jung Yeol

doi:2018.22.1.7

J Korean Soc Matern Child Health > Volume 22(1); 2018 > Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health 2018;22(1):7-16.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2018.22.1.7 Published online January 31, 2018.

Necessity of Research on Thirdhand Smoke for Maternal and Child Health

Jin Ho Choe¹, Jung Yeol Han²

¹Department of Urology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

모자보건을 위한 삼차흡연 연구의 필요성

최진호¹, 한정열²

¹단국대학교 의과대학 제일병원 비뇨기과
²단국대학교 의과대학 제일병원 산부인과

Correspondence: Jung Yeol Han,
Email: hanjungyeol055@gmail.com

Abstract

The causal relationship between cigarette smoking during pregnancy and adverse maternal and child health outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome are well known. In addition, cigarette compounds are neurotoxic even at extremely low levels. Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the contamination that persists after secondhand tobacco smoke has been emitted into air. It refers to the tobacco-related gases and particles that become embedded in materials such as carpets, walls, furniture, blankets, and toys. THS is not strictly smoke but chemicals that adhere to surfaces from which they can be released back into the air, undergo chemical transformations, and/or accumulate. The concept of THS is a relatively new phenomenon in the environmental and public health field. Currently, the hazards of THS are not as well documented as the hazards of secondhand smoke. Furthermore, its health effects and biological effects are largely unknown. This review summarizes recent research progress in reproductive toxicology studies that use animal models and in vitro systems, studies of environmental contamination by THS, human exposure studies, and priorities for further research. Future research must be conducted to facilitate hazard identification, and exposure and risk assessment to address its health effect on susceptible populations, such as pregnant women and children. In addition, policies and laws concerning tobacco smoke will need to be reviewed and possibly revised with the role of THS considered as an indispensable component of a broader tobacco control strategy in maternal and child health.

Key Words: maternal health, child health, smoke, tobacco smoke pollution