Why does "couple cancer" occur? The "killer" behind it is ignored by many people

Today, the topic is "A couple both got cancer because the husband smoked"

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Aroused heated discussion among netizens

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A woman in Henan province was

My husband got lung cancer from secondhand and thirdhand smoke

Her husband smoked for a long time.

I was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer a few years ago.

Nowadays, many people have realized

The harm of "first-hand smoke" and "second-hand smoke"

When smoking, I will deliberately avoid children and pregnant women

When I feel like smoking at home, I go to the balcony or toilet to smoke.

But do you know?

As long as you still smoke

Another more terrible form of pollution: "third-hand smoke"

Will quietly poison the body of your family

Wang Qiming, chief physician of the Department of Internal Medicine at Henan Cancer Hospital, introduced

Secondhand smoke

Thirdhand smoke is more harmful and lasts longer

What is “third-hand smoke”?

Third-hand smoke is formed by the residual smoke and particles of second-hand smoke scattered on the surface of objects or dust. After several months, it is redispersed into the air through sweeping, painting or repaving of carpets, and is inhaled or absorbed through the skin into the human body.

Nicotine deposited on the surface of objects or air dust can react with nitrous acid, the main indoor pollutant, to form teratogenic and carcinogenic substances.

These residues will remain for several days or even half a year, blend into the air, and be passively inhaled by non-smokers.

Thirdhand smoke can impair gene expression, induce cancer, and damage the lungs

JAMA Network Open, a subsidiary of the Journal of the American Medical Association, once published a study by scientists at the University of California, Riverside. Randomized clinical trials have shown that the harm of third-hand smoke cannot be ignored. It will change the gene expression of human nasal epithelial cells and cause damage to these cells.

Studies have shown that healthy non-smokers who inhale third-hand smoke for only three hours experience significant changes in the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells. Inhaled third-hand smoke changes the biological pathways associated with oxidative stress, leading to DNA damage, which may cause cancer in the long term.

In addition, the researchers found that brief exposure to thirdhand smoke can affect the activity of mitochondria, which are like the power plants of human cells. If the mitochondria are left unaffected by this, it will lead to cell death.

Third-hand smoke contains 11 highly carcinogenic compounds, including hydrocyanic acid, butane, toluene, arsenic, lead, carbon monoxide, and polonium-2-0.

In addition, the nicotine contained in third-hand smoke reacts with nitrous acid, a common air pollutant, to form powerful carcinogens.

Once these carcinogens enter the human body, they will enter the cells. Some compounds will react with nucleic acids in the cell nucleus, causing gene chain breaks or base oxidation, opening the door to cancer.

For adults, due to their strong resistance, the harm of third-hand smoke is not obvious in a short period of time. However, if you are in a third-hand smoke environment for a long time, the carcinogens contained in it will circulate in the lungs of the human body, and once a person is overly tired, malnourished, or the body's immunity decreases rapidly, it will cause damage to the lungs.

Third-hand smoke is most harmful to infants and young children

The main victims of third-hand smoke are infants and young children, because third-hand smoke will stick to the surrounding environment (such as toys, clothes, furniture) for a longer time, and the heavy metals, carcinogens, and even radioactive substances contained in it will make it easier for infants and young children to come into contact with them when they are crawling and playing. Children are accustomed to sucking their fingers or putting objects in their mouths, so the damage they suffer will be greater and more lasting.

Infants and young children are in a closed environment for a long time, and their dust inhalation rate is twice that of ordinary adults. Long-term contact with floors and furniture contaminated by "third-hand smoke" is likely to cause cognitive and neurological development disorders, and produce symptoms of delayed muscle and bone development like active smokers and second-hand smokers.

How to reduce the harm of "third-hand smoke"?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that no child should be exposed to cigarette smoke. The academy gives the following advice on how to avoid the harm of third-hand smoke.

Don't smoke in your home or car.

Don't let people who smoke near you, your children, or your pets.

E-cigarettes also produce third-hand smoke, so they should be treated like regular cigarettes.

The most thorough way to protect your children from the harm of third-hand smoke is to quit smoking.

In addition, change bed sheets and quilt covers frequently, wash curtains, and wipe furniture regularly; change clothes and rinse mouth immediately after smoking, and it is best to take a shower; clean ashtrays and other smoking utensils frequently, and put some tea leaves, orange peels, etc. to absorb third-hand smoke, which can also relatively reduce the harm of third-hand smoke.

So far

There is no complete or effective way to remove third-hand smoke.

For the people around you

Also for myself

Stay away from tobacco

Healthy Living

Source: Science and Technology Daily

Editor: Li Xiaohang (internship)

Review: Julie

Final judge: Wang Yu