没听过三手烟?那你肯定不知道它的危害有多大!
Third-hand smoke exposure can cripple your brain and liver, affecting your mannerisms, increasing your risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and ruining your metabolism. That is according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside who saw significant health issues in people within a month of exposure to smoke. The research team analyzed how people were affected by inhaling smoke from another person's clothing, hair, home, or car. In previous studies on mice, the same scientists showed third-hand smoke can cause type 2 diabetes, hyperactivity, liver and lung damage, and wound-healing complications. Now, they have shown they can even see an impact on brain and liver tissues. 'Our goal was to determine the minimum amount of time required to cause physiological changes in mice when they are exposed to THS (third-hand smoke), using an exposure system that mimics human exposure,' said lead author Manuela Martins-Green. 'We found that THS exposure as early as one month resulted in liver damage. THS exposure for two months resulted in further molecular damage, and at four to six months caused even more such damage. We also found that the mice showed insulin resistance after long-term THS exposure.' Damage to the liver can hinder its capability to detoxify the body, leading to more damage by THS toxins. Martins-Green and her team examined the brains of THS-exposed mice and found that stress hormones, such as epinephrine, increased in one month of exposure. Additional stress hormones are seen at two months, four months, and six months, eventually causing immune fatigue in the mice. 'THS is a stealth toxin, a silent killer,' Martins-Green said. 'Contaminants can be absorbed through the skin and through breathing. Although our research was not done on humans, people should be aware that hotel rooms, cars, and homes that were occupied by smokers are very likely to be contaminated with THS.' THS toxins, which are invisible but can be smelled, remain on surfaces for many years, and are resistant to even strong cleaning agents. Further, they accumulate and age by reacting with the ambient air, and change into carcinogenic chemicals. Because THS is absorbed through skin, children are especially vulnerable given their close contact with household surfaces. Children frequently ingest these toxins by putting their hands in their mouths. They also absorb them through the skin. In other preliminary experiments, Martins-Green and her team found that mice exposed to THS are less social than unexposed mice. Further, the researchers found that over time the mice get addicted to THS. 'Clearly, THS is affecting the behavior of mice,' said Martins-Green, 'It's not hard to imagine what the impact is on children who, unlike most adults, cannot remove themselves from these harmful environments. Although our work was done on mice, we are confident our results will apply to humans.' |