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Many people know that second-hand smoke can harm our bodies, but ignore the invisible “third-hand smoke" that’s everywhere in our daily lives. Doctors point out that even if the smoke has dispersed, the tar and particles will still remain attached to clothes and hair, directly harming people’s health upon physical contact.

Third-hand smoke will damage and lower children’s reading ability by 11% to 18%. Even chances for other symptoms, including allergies and asthma, to occur will double.

China Times reports, more than half of the smokers think that as long as they do not smoke in front of their children, the smoke will not affect them. However, this is a false conception.

Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital’s Doctor Xue Guang-jie says that third-hand smoke may remain in spaces up to three months. If the smokers do not quit smoking, the influence of third-hand smoke will pile up, which will prolong its damage to people’s health.

Liberty Times reports, more than one-third of second-hand smoke transforms into third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke can’t be easily cleaned up through wiping. One must use strong cleaner sprays to remove it.

Dr. Xue says, the US had a research study carry out investigations on 5,000 children and teenagers aged between six to 16 years old from 1988 to 1994. The results showed that smoke not only damages a child’s respiratory system, but also easily results in asthma, allergies and otitis media. In addition, even the chance of getting lung cancer has increased by 25%.

Translated by Vic Chiang
Edited by Olivia Yang

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