A new report about thirdhand smoke – the lingering residue of tobacco smoke – underscores the need for indoor areas to be 100 percent smokefree.

The study, done by the Lawrence [...]]]> That funky smell that stays in a room where someone has been smoking earlier isn’t just a bad odor. It likely indicates the presence of carcinogens.

A new report about thirdhand smoke – the lingering residue of tobacco smoke – underscores the need for indoor areas to be 100 percent smokefree.

The study, done by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, shows that residual nicotine from tobacco smoke adheres to surfaces and reacts with a chemical in the air to form cancer-causing chemicals.

The authors note that nonsmokers, particularly infants, are at risk through contact with surfaces and dust that has been contaminated with residual smoke gases and particles.

If you aren’t a scientist, you can check out a Science Daily news story about the study for an easier read about the study’s findings. Note that one of the study authors is quoted about how this research raises questions about the safety of electronic cigarettes, devices that contain a battery-powered vaporizer that turns nicotine into a mist.

Bottom line: This is yet another reason for comprehensive indoor smokefree policies.

Unfortunately, a judge has disrupted the FDA’s efforts. Last week, as reported in [...]]]> Now that we have a new administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finally getting serious about protecting the public health. Most recently, the agency has tried to block electronic cigarettes coming from China. The jury is still out on their safety.

Unfortunately, a judge has disrupted the FDA’s efforts. Last week, as reported in The New York Times and other media, a federal judge said the agency can’t stop the e-cigarettes from coming in, and that they should be regulated as tobacco products instead of drugs or medical devices.

Matt Myers of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids made some good points in the story, saying that the judge ignored a common-sense distinction the FDA makes between tobacco products and non-tobacco products that have nicotine in them, like lollipops and water. Unfortunately, he also said that e-cigarettes provide an alternative to smoking in smokefree places.

Whoa. Hold on there. We don’t accept that. It’s still unclear whether the chemicals in the vapor emitted from electronic cigarettes is harmful. Plus, there is the confusion factor – a smoker with a real cigarette may see the smoker with the e-cigarette across the restaurant or bar and figure it’s okay to light up. That would burden employees at bars and restaurants with unnecessary enforcement responsibilities.

It’s not at all clear that these things can be used in smokefree spaces. Hopefully our friends at TFK will back off that notion.