We all have heard about 2nd hand smoke, but 3rd hand?

We've all heard about the dangers of second hand smoke, but what about third-hand smoke?

New evidence supports third-hand smoke may be just as dangerous, especially to children.

What is third-hand smoke? Third-hand smoke is the chemical residue created by cigarettes, and it clings to bedding, carpet, furniture, clothes and your environment. The residue contains the same cancer-causing chemicals that are in cigarettes. Cigarette and other tobacco smoke contain more than 4,000 different chemicals including benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, tar, and carbon monoxide.

Children exposed to third-hand smoke are put at greater risk for chronic ear infections, chronic respiratory infections, and possibly far more serious problems that are still unknown.

This new look at third-hand smoke proves that the only way to prevent adults and children from toxic smoke exposure 100% is to quit smoking, period. These chemicals seep into clothes and hair, which means that even limiting smoking to outdoors still puts children at risk.

Although the concept of third hand smoke is relatively new, studies show that third hand residue can become airborne again- a vicious cycle that is only stopped by quitting smoking.