Nicotine Smoke Investigations

 

Today, a number of municipalities prohibit tenants in multi-family properties from smoking as secondhand smoke is known to cause cancer and other respiratory issues. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that secondhand smoke, also referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), contains more than 7,000 substances and that exposure causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers. The agency also states that exposure to ETS has been shown in a number of studies to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Back in 2010, information from a multi-institutional study that was led by researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was released that also looked into health dangers associated with third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke refers to the residues left behind on most surfaces and objects after secondhand smoke has cleared. The study found that nicotine can remain on the surface of carpets, furniture, floors, walls and other materials for up to months after it was deposited. The study also found that nicotine residues could react with ambient nitrous acid and form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines.

Property managers, landlords, tenants and indoor environmental consultants looking to test for the possible presence of nicotine residues in a property can turn to Coast Environmental Group.

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To ask a question or schedule an appointment call 1-800-784-3336 or email us at admin@CoastEnviro.com