Tobacco smoke contains thousands of harmful chemicals, including nicotine, benzene, formaldehyde, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and carbon monoxide. While active smoking is a well-known health hazard, indirect exposure through secondhand and thirdhand smoke can also lead to serious health issues. Testing for these exposures helps identify contamination sources, assess health risks, and guide remediation strategies.
Technical Details About Our Testing Services
- Secondhand Smoke (SHS):
SHS exposure occurs when individuals are near active smokers, whether in shared spaces such as homes, offices, or shops. SHS comprises two primary components:
- Mainstream smoke: Exhaled by the smoker.
- Sidestream smoke: Emitted from the lit end of tobacco products or from burning tobacco in devices such as hookahs. This smoke is more toxic and contains higher concentrations of carcinogens compared to mainstream smoke. Its smaller particles can deeply penetrate the lungs and tissues, amplifying health risks.
Secondhand Smoke exposure can be directly evaluated by measuring concentrations of chemicals in the air and compared with residential air quality limits.
- Thirdhand Smoke (THS):
THS refers to tobacco residue that settles on surfaces and furnishings after smoking. This residue can linger on hard surfaces, fabrics, and upholstery, creating a long-term source of chemical exposure. Regular cleaning or laundering is necessary to reduce its presence, and testing can confirm contamination levels and guide effective cleaning protocols.
Thirdhand exposure is very hard to detect since the concentrations of chemicals in the air are extremely low and often are indistinguishable from the background chemicals typical for urban air.
Contact Us for Expert Guidance and Testing
At LCS Laboratory Inc., we are dedicated to supporting your efforts to maintain safe environments. Whether you need to assess SHS or THS contamination, our testing services provide actionable data to address tobacco smoke exposure effectively. Email us today for a free, no-obligation quote and discuss your specific project requirements with our experienced team.
