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and Antoine Snijders analyze
blood cells collected from mice
exposed to third-hand smoke.
Photo courtesy of
Marilyn Chung/Berkeley Lab
Exposure to third-hand smoke leads to biological effects on weight and blood cell development, according to preclinical research published in Scientific Reports.
Researchers found that newborn mice housed with smoke-treated cloths for 3 weeks weighed significantly less than mice in a control group.
Moreover, newborn and adult mice exposed to third-hand smoke experienced persistent changes in blood cell counts.
The blood cell count changes are associated with inflammatory and allergic reactions upon exposure to third-hand smoke, the researchers said.
For this study, the team set out to characterize the biological effects of exposure to third-hand smoke by placing 5-square-centimeter pieces of smoke-contaminated cotton cloth in cages with mice.
The researchers then compared smoke-exposed mice to control mice. The team assessed changes to body weight and the hematopoietic system after 3 weeks of exposure (or no exposure) for mice belonging to 2 age groups: birth to 3 weeks (neonatal) and 12 to 15 weeks (young adult).
The results showed that smoke exposure temporarily inhibited weight gain in the neonatal mice. There was no effect on weight gain in the young adult mice.
In addition, smoke exposure produced changes in blood cell populations that persisted over time and were evident in mice from both age groups.
In general, there were lower levels of platelets and specific types of white blood cells in the smoke-exposed mice.
For example, neonatal mice exposed to third-hand smoke had higher levels of eosinophils, female mice had higher levels of neutrophils, males had higher levels of basophils, and all mice had higher levels of B cells.
“Those are all types of white blood cells associated with inflammation and allergic reactions,” said study author Jian-Hua Mao, PhD, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.
“And the effects on blood cell count persisted even after exposure ended. Changes remained at least 14 weeks after exposure ended for the neonatal group and 2 weeks after it ended for the adults.”
The researchers pointed out that they did not study whether the observed biological changes led to specific diseases or other health outcomes, but other studies suggest links to adverse health effects.
“Third-hand smoke is an underappreciated risk factor in health,” said study author Antoine Snijders, PhD, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
“It’s clear that more and bigger studies are needed, particularly in humans, so we can support policy decisions on third-hand smoke.” 
and Antoine Snijders analyze
blood cells collected from mice
exposed to third-hand smoke.
Photo courtesy of
Marilyn Chung/Berkeley Lab
Exposure to third-hand smoke leads to biological effects on weight and blood cell development, according to preclinical research published in Scientific Reports.
Researchers found that newborn mice housed with smoke-treated cloths for 3 weeks weighed significantly less than mice in a control group.
Moreover, newborn and adult mice exposed to third-hand smoke experienced persistent changes in blood cell counts.
The blood cell count changes are associated with inflammatory and allergic reactions upon exposure to third-hand smoke, the researchers said.
For this study, the team set out to characterize the biological effects of exposure to third-hand smoke by placing 5-square-centimeter pieces of smoke-contaminated cotton cloth in cages with mice.
The researchers then compared smoke-exposed mice to control mice. The team assessed changes to body weight and the hematopoietic system after 3 weeks of exposure (or no exposure) for mice belonging to 2 age groups: birth to 3 weeks (neonatal) and 12 to 15 weeks (young adult).
The results showed that smoke exposure temporarily inhibited weight gain in the neonatal mice. There was no effect on weight gain in the young adult mice.
In addition, smoke exposure produced changes in blood cell populations that persisted over time and were evident in mice from both age groups.
In general, there were lower levels of platelets and specific types of white blood cells in the smoke-exposed mice.
For example, neonatal mice exposed to third-hand smoke had higher levels of eosinophils, female mice had higher levels of neutrophils, males had higher levels of basophils, and all mice had higher levels of B cells.
“Those are all types of white blood cells associated with inflammation and allergic reactions,” said study author Jian-Hua Mao, PhD, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.
“And the effects on blood cell count persisted even after exposure ended. Changes remained at least 14 weeks after exposure ended for the neonatal group and 2 weeks after it ended for the adults.”
The researchers pointed out that they did not study whether the observed biological changes led to specific diseases or other health outcomes, but other studies suggest links to adverse health effects.
“Third-hand smoke is an underappreciated risk factor in health,” said study author Antoine Snijders, PhD, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
“It’s clear that more and bigger studies are needed, particularly in humans, so we can support policy decisions on third-hand smoke.”
and Antoine Snijders analyze
blood cells collected from mice
exposed to third-hand smoke.
Photo courtesy of
Marilyn Chung/Berkeley Lab
Exposure to third-hand smoke leads to biological effects on weight and blood cell development, according to preclinical research published in Scientific Reports.
Researchers found that newborn mice housed with smoke-treated cloths for 3 weeks weighed significantly less than mice in a control group.
Moreover, newborn and adult mice exposed to third-hand smoke experienced persistent changes in blood cell counts.
The blood cell count changes are associated with inflammatory and allergic reactions upon exposure to third-hand smoke, the researchers said.
For this study, the team set out to characterize the biological effects of exposure to third-hand smoke by placing 5-square-centimeter pieces of smoke-contaminated cotton cloth in cages with mice.
The researchers then compared smoke-exposed mice to control mice. The team assessed changes to body weight and the hematopoietic system after 3 weeks of exposure (or no exposure) for mice belonging to 2 age groups: birth to 3 weeks (neonatal) and 12 to 15 weeks (young adult).
The results showed that smoke exposure temporarily inhibited weight gain in the neonatal mice. There was no effect on weight gain in the young adult mice.
In addition, smoke exposure produced changes in blood cell populations that persisted over time and were evident in mice from both age groups.
In general, there were lower levels of platelets and specific types of white blood cells in the smoke-exposed mice.
For example, neonatal mice exposed to third-hand smoke had higher levels of eosinophils, female mice had higher levels of neutrophils, males had higher levels of basophils, and all mice had higher levels of B cells.
“Those are all types of white blood cells associated with inflammation and allergic reactions,” said study author Jian-Hua Mao, PhD, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.
“And the effects on blood cell count persisted even after exposure ended. Changes remained at least 14 weeks after exposure ended for the neonatal group and 2 weeks after it ended for the adults.”
The researchers pointed out that they did not study whether the observed biological changes led to specific diseases or other health outcomes, but other studies suggest links to adverse health effects.
“Third-hand smoke is an underappreciated risk factor in health,” said study author Antoine Snijders, PhD, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
“It’s clear that more and bigger studies are needed, particularly in humans, so we can support policy decisions on third-hand smoke.”