Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2021 Jan 22;23(2):364-372. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntaa151.
Toxic tobacco smoke residue, also known as thirdhand smoke (THS), can persist in indoor environments long after tobacco has been smoked. This study examined the effects of different cleaning methods on nicotine in dust and on surfaces.
Participants had strict indoor home smoking bans and were randomly assigned to: dry/damp cleaning followed by wet cleaning 1 month later (N = 10), wet cleaning followed by dry/damp cleaning (N = 10) 1 month later, and dry/damp and wet cleaning applied the same day (N = 28). Nicotine on surfaces and in dust served as markers of THS and were measured before, immediately after, and 3 months after the cleaning, using liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Over a 4-month period prior to cleaning, surface nicotine levels remained unchanged (GeoMean change: -11% to +8%; repeated measures r = .94; p < .001). Used separately, dry/damp and wet cleaning methods showed limited benefits. When applied in combination, however, we observed significantly reduced nicotine on surfaces and in dust. Compared with baseline, GeoMean surface nicotine was 43% lower immediately after (z = -3.73, p < .001) and 53% lower 3 months later (z = -3.96, p < .001). GeoMean dust nicotine loading declined by 60% immediately after (z = -3.55, p < .001) and then increased 3 months later to precleaning levels (z = -1.18, p = .237).
Cleaning interventions reduced but did not permanently remove nicotine in dust and on surfaces. Cleaning efforts for THS need to address persistent pollutant reservoirs and replenishment of reservoirs from new tobacco smoke intrusion. THS contamination in low-income homes may contribute to health disparities, particularly in children.
Administered sequentially or simultaneously, the tested cleaning protocols reduced nicotine on surfaces by ~50% immediately after and 3 months after the cleaning. Nicotine dust loading was reduced by ~60% immediately after cleaning, but it then rebounded to precleaning levels 3 months later. Cleaning protocols were unable to completely remove THS, and pollutants in dust were replenished from remaining pollutant reservoirs or new secondhand smoke intrusion. To achieve better outcomes, cleaning protocols should be systematically repeated to remove newly accumulated pollutants. New secondhand smoke intrusions need to be prevented, and remaining THS reservoirs should be identified, cleaned, or removed to prevent pollutants from these reservoirs to accumulate in dust and on surfaces.
有毒的烟草烟雾残留物，也称为三手烟（THS），在吸烟后很长时间内仍会残留在室内环境中。本研究检测了不同清洁方法对灰尘中尼古丁和表面尼古丁的影响。
参与者家中严格禁止吸烟，并被随机分配到以下三组：先进行干式/湿式清洁，一个月后再进行湿式清洁（N=10）；先进行湿式清洁，一个月后再进行干式/湿式清洁（N=10）；同一天进行干式/湿式和湿式清洁（N=28）。表面和灰尘中的尼古丁作为三手烟的标志物，在清洁前、清洁后立即以及清洁后 3 个月时使用液相色谱三重四极杆质谱法（LC-MS/MS）进行测量。
在清洁前的 4 个月期间，表面尼古丁水平保持不变（几何平均值变化：-11%至+8%；重复测量 r=.94；p<.001）。单独使用干式/湿式和湿式清洁方法效果有限。然而，当组合使用时，我们观察到表面和灰尘中的尼古丁明显减少。与基线相比，表面尼古丁的几何平均值在清洁后立即降低了 43%（z=-3.73，p<.001），3 个月后降低了 53%（z=-3.96，p<.001）。灰尘中尼古丁的负荷在清洁后立即降低了 60%（z=-3.55，p<.001），然后在 3 个月后回升至清洁前水平（z=-1.18，p=.237）。
清洁干预措施减少了但未能永久去除灰尘和表面的尼古丁。针对三手烟的清洁工作需要解决持久的污染物储存库问题，并防止新的烟草烟雾进入造成储存库的补充。在低收入家庭中，三手烟污染可能导致健康差距，尤其是在儿童中。
依次或同时实施的测试清洁方案可使表面尼古丁在清洁后立即降低约 50%，3 个月后降低约 50%。清洁后立即降低了约 60%的灰尘中尼古丁负荷，但 3 个月后又回升至清洁前水平。清洁方案无法完全去除三手烟，灰尘中的污染物是从剩余的污染物储存库或新的二手烟入侵中补充的。为了获得更好的结果，应系统地重复清洁方案以去除新积累的污染物。需要防止新的二手烟入侵，并确定和清除剩余的三手烟储存库，以防止这些储存库中的污染物在灰尘和表面上积累。
