Adhesion and Removal of Thirdhand Smoke from Indoor Fabrics: A Method for Rapid Assessment and Identification of Chemical Repositories.

Giovanna L Pozuelos,Esther E Omaiye,Suzaynn F Schick,Prue Talbot,Peyton Jacob

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073592

Abstract

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is an environmental contaminant that may cause adverse health effects in smokers and nonsmokers. Currently, time-consuming analytical methods are necessary to assess chemicals in THS repositories, like upholstered furniture and clothing. Our goal was to develop a rapid, accessible method that can be used to measure THS contamination in common household fabrics and to evaluate remediation. Cotton, terry cloth, polyester, and wool were exposed to THS for various times in a controlled laboratory environment and then extracted in various media at room temperature or 60 °C to develop an autofluorescent method to quantify THS. Concentrations of nicotine and related alkaloids in the extracts were determined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The autofluorescence of extracts was proportional to the time and amount of THS exposure received by cotton and terry cloth. Extracts of polyester and wool did not show autofluorescence unless heat was applied during extraction. Nicotine, nicotine alkaloids, and TSNA concentrations were higher in THS extracts from cotton and terry cloth than extracts of polyester and wool carpet, in agreement with the autofluorescence data. For fabrics spiked with 10 mg of nicotine, extraction efficiency was much higher from terry cloth (7 mg) than polyester (0.11 mg). In high relative humidity, nicotine recovery from both cotton and polyester was 80% (~8 mg). Our results provide a simple, rapid method to assess THS contaminants in household fabrics and further show that THS extraction is influenced by fabric type, heat, and humidity. Thus, remediation of THS environments may need to vary depending on the fabric reservoirs being treated. Understanding the dynamics of THS in fabrics can help set up appropriate remediation policies to protect humans from exposure.

Highlights

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is an environmental pollutant that can be absorbed through dermal contact, inhalation, or ingestion by both smokers and nonsmokers
For fabrics spiked with 10 mg of nicotine, extraction efficiency was much higher from terry cloth (7 mg) than polyester (0.11 mg)
Understanding the dynamics of THS in fabrics can help set up appropriate remediation policies to protect humans from exposure

Summary

Introduction

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is an environmental pollutant that can be absorbed through dermal contact, inhalation, or ingestion by both smokers and nonsmokers. THS comprises secondhand smoke from the burning end of a cigarette plus exhaled mainstream smoke that settles on indoor surfaces where the residue can remain, react, be re-emitted, or be resuspended for months or years after smoking has ceased [1,2]. THS is a mixture of hazardous volatile and semivolatile organic chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and secondary compounds generated through reactions with atmospheric pollutants (e.g., ozone and nitrous acid) [3]. A major component of THS, can react with ambient concentrations of oxidants like nitrous acid or ozone to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone (NNK), Int. J.

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