The residues present in tobacco smoke can infiltrate well-ventilated rooms by depositing themselves on people's clothes, skin and hair, then they evaporate slowly over time. This process is called "gas evolution," according to the results of a scientific study by Yale University, published in the journal Science Advances this Wednesday.
Smoke residue, called "tertiary smoke", can cause "ultra-passive smoking". By placing a high-tech sampling device in the exhaust air of a cinema in Germany where smoking has been prohibited for fifteen years, scientists have established that "tertiary smoke" exposed spectators to a " ultra-passive smoking ”equivalent to between one and 10 cigarettes, depending on the substance. Over four days, the levels of 35 tobacco-related chemicals increased as spectators entered the cinema. This includes chemicals that can cause cancer, such as benzene and formaldehyde.
Intense effects
The effects were particularly intense when showing films for adults, like "Resident Evil". According to the study's authors, this could be linked to the fact that these films attract an older audience, who are more likely to have been exposed to tobacco smoke.
"Our work establishes that there is a substantial deposition of 'tertiary smoke' components by people in a real indoor smoke-free environment," said Drew Gentner. He recognized that determining the precise level of health risks to individuals was beyond the scope of the current study and could depend on a variety of factors, including the frequency of exposure to chemicals and the proximity of people. the source of emission of these pollutants.
Classic passive smoking, linked to so-called “secondhand” smoke, has been studied for decades. It increases the risk of heart problems and lung cancer, although the exact level of risk has been disputed by recent studies.
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