Third-hand smoke risk is 'small if it exists at all'
An organisation has claimed that health insurance customers do not need to worry about the risk of third-hand smoke.
Health insurance customers should not take any notice of recent reports that third-hand smoke can damage them, according to one group which represents smokers.
Forest, a political campaign group for smokers, said that the recent findings are "ludicrous" and the danger for third-hand smoke is so small, if it even exists.
The comments follow findings from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which warned that the smoke which clings to furniture, clothes and hair for a long time after the cigarette has been put out, could harm people.
These findings stated that the nicotine in the smoke reacts with the common indoor air pollutant nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens. It added that the substance can stay around for days, weeks or even months.
However, Simon Clark, director of Forest, said that the group does not agree with the research, saying the claims are "alarmist" and nothing that health insurance customers should worry about.
"The dangers of second-hand smoke have been greatly exaggerated. As for the possible risks of third-hand smoke, we think the concept is being introduced because a lot of people were duped into thinking that second-hand smoke is a serious health risk," he added.
He also dismissed the need for further studies on the issue, saying that smoking has declined in the last 40 years and people who do smoke are increasingly considerate to those around them.
He added: "I fear that any scientific research carried out into third-hand smoke will be based on propaganda, not genuine scientific research."
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