TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- We don’t question the fact that tobacco is harmful, but we don’t always think about how far that harm can reach. Second-hand and third-hand smoke is a real threat to children and pets.
Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled from the smoker, as well as the smoke that comes off the end of a burning cigarette.
Third-hand smoke is the residue that is left after the smoker is finished smoking. Think about the yellow walls in a smoker’s home.
Young children are in danger of the effects of second-hand smoke, particularly if the parent smokes in the house or in the car. But we can’t forget about the smoke particles that settle on the carpet, car seat, toys and clothes. Third-hand smoke is a big concern to infants who crawl on the floor and put toys and things in their mouths, causing them to ingest the smoking residue.
And don’t forget about our pets.
“If smoking is that harmful to human beings, it would make sense that second-hand smoke would have an adverse effect on pets that live in the homes of smokers,” says Dr. Carolynn MacAllister, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension veterinarian.
Second-hand and third-hand smoke poses a significant health threat to pets. It has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds.
One reason cats are susceptible is because of their grooming habits. They lick up the cancer-causing carcinogens that accumulate on their fur, exposing the mucous membrane in their mouth to the carcinogens.
In dogs, there is a higher incidence of nasal cancer for those living in a home with second-hand smoke.
The increase was specifically found among the long-nosed breeds due to the higher amount of surface area that is exposed to the carcinogens. Short- or medium-nosed dogs showed higher rates for lung cancer.
Pet birds are also threatened by second-hand smoke. Their respiratory system is hypersensitive to any type of pollutant in the air. The most serious consequences of exposure are pneumonia or lung cancer.
Remember…
The risks from second-hand and third-hand smoke are real, even when we can no longer see the smoke. Our kids and pets are counting on us to keep them safe, particularly when they can’t move away from the danger on their own.