Biomarkers of disease can be detected in mice as early as 4 weeks after initiation of exposure to third-hand smoke levels equivalent to those found in homes of smokers.

Third-hand smoke (THS) is a newly discovered environmental health hazard that results from accumulation and aging of second-hand smoke (SHS) toxins on surfaces where smoking has occurred. Our objective was to determine whether there is a time-dependent effect of THS exposure on health. Using an in vivo exposure mouse system that mimics exposure of humans to THS, we investigated its effects on biomarkers found in serum, and in liver and brain tissues. Mice were exposed to THS for 1, 2, 4, or 6 months and brain, liver, and serum were collected. We found that THS exposure, as early as 1 month, resulted in increased circulating inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor by an order of magnitude of 2 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor by an order of magnitude of 1.5 and in increases in the stress hormone epinephrine and the liver damage biomarker aspartate aminotransferase (AST), increased in magnitude 1.5 and 2.5 times compared with controls, respectively. THS exposure for 2 months resulted in further damage and at 4 and 6 months, many factors related to oxidative stress were altered and caused molecular damage. We also found that the mice became hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinimic suggesting that insulin resistance (IR) may be a significant consequence of long-term exposure to THS. In conclusion, time-dependent THS exposure has a significant effect on health as early as 1 month after initiation of exposure and these alterations progressively worsen with time. Our studies are important because virtually nothing is known about the effects of increased THS exposure time, they can serve to educate the public on the dangers of THS, and the biomarkers we identified can be used in the clinic, once verified in exposed humans.

Third-hand Smoke: Impact on Hemostasis and Thrombogenesis.

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for acute coronary thrombosis. In fact, both active/first-hand smoke and passive/second-hand smoke exposure are known to increase the risk of coronary thrombosis. Although recently a new risk has been identified and termed third-hand smoke (THS), which is the residual tobacco smoke contaminant that remains after a cigarette is extinguished, it remains to be determined whether it can also enhance the risk of thrombogenesis, much like first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke. Therefore, the present studies investigated the impact of THS exposure in the context of platelet biology and related disease states. It was found that THS-exposed mice exhibited an enhanced platelet aggregation and secretion responses as well as enhanced integrin GPIIb-IIIa activation. Furthermore, it was found that THS exposure shortens the tail bleeding time and the occlusion time in a model of thrombosis. Thus, our data demonstrate for the first time (at least in mice) that THS exposure increases the risk of thrombosis-based disease states, which is attributed, at least in part, to their hyperactive platelets.

Biological markers of harm can be detected in mice exposed for two months to low doses of Third Hand Smoke under conditions that mimic human exposure.

Third-hand smoke (THS) is a recently discovered environmental health hazard that results from accumulation and aging of second-hand smoke (SHS) toxins on surfaces of environments where smoking has occurred. Our objective was to determine whether there is a dose-dependent effect of THS exposure on biological markers of harm (BMH) using an in vivo exposure system that mimics exposure of humans to THS. THS exposure generated from as low as the 10 cigarettes-smoking regimen, resulted in increased circulating inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 alpha, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. We also found that there was an increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone and superoxide dismutase and a decrease in ATP levels in liver tissue. Many of the altered BMH that are related to oxidative stress and decrease in ATP levels, suggest mitochondrial dysfunction. THS exposure generated from the 20 and 40 cigarettes-smoking regimen resulted in further damage. Our studies are important because virtually nothing is known about the physiological damage caused by different levels of THS exposure. These studies can also serve to educate the public on the dangers of THS and the BMH we identified can potentially be used in the clinic, once verified in exposed humans.

Correction: A Health Threat to Bystanders Living in the Homes of Smokers: How Smoke Toxins Deposited on Surfaces Can Cause Insulin Resistance.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149510.].

A Health Threat to Bystanders Living in the Homes of Smokers: How Smoke Toxins Deposited on Surfaces Can Cause Insulin Resistance.

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the accumulation of secondhand smoke on environmental surfaces. THS is found on the clothing and hair of smokers as well as on surfaces in homes and cars of smokers. Exposure occurs by ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption. Children living in homes of smokers are at highest risk because they crawl on the floor, touch parents' clothing/hair and household objects. Using mice exposed to THS under conditions that mimic exposure of humans, we show that THS increases cellular oxidative stress by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels while reducing the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) that break down H2O2 into H2O and O2. This results in lipid peroxidation, protein nitrosylation and DNA damage. Consequences of these cell and molecular changes are hyperglycemia and insulinemia. Indeed, we found reduced levels of insulin receptor, PI3K, AKT, all important molecules in insulin signaling and glucose uptake by cells. To determine whether these effects on THS-induced insulin resistance are due to increase in oxidative stress, we treated mice exposed to THS with the antioxidants N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha-tocopherol (alpha-toc) and showed that the oxidative stress, the molecular damage, and the insulin resistance, were significantly reversed. Conversely, feeding the mice with chow that mimics "western diet", which is known to increase oxidative stress, while exposing the mice to THS, further increased the oxidative stress and aggravated hyperglycemia and insulinemia. In conclusion, THS exposure results in insulin resistance in the form of non-obese type II diabetes (NODII) through oxidative stress. If confirmed in humans, these studies could have a major impact on how people view exposure to environmental tobacco toxins, in particular to children, elderly and workers in environments where tobacco smoke has taken place.

Cigarette smoke toxins deposited on surfaces: implications for human health.

Cigarette smoking remains a significant health threat for smokers and nonsmokers alike. Secondhand smoke (SHS) is intrinsically more toxic than directly inhaled smoke. Recently, a new threat has been discovered - Thirdhand smoke (THS) - the accumulation of SHS on surfaces that ages with time, becoming progressively more toxic. THS is a potential health threat to children, spouses of smokers and workers in environments where smoking is or has been allowed. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of THS on liver, lung, skin healing, and behavior, using an animal model exposed to THS under conditions that mimic exposure of humans. THS-exposed mice show alterations in multiple organ systems and excrete levels of NNAL (a tobacco-specific carcinogen biomarker) similar to those found in children exposed to SHS (and consequently to THS). In liver, THS leads to increased lipid levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to cirrhosis and cancer and a potential contributor to cardiovascular disease. In lung, THS stimulates excess collagen production and high levels of inflammatory cytokines, suggesting propensity for fibrosis with implications for inflammation-induced diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. In wounded skin, healing in THS-exposed mice has many characteristics of the poor healing of surgical incisions observed in human smokers. Lastly, behavioral tests show that THS-exposed mice become hyperactive. The latter data, combined with emerging associated behavioral problems in children exposed to SHS/THS, suggest that, with prolonged exposure, they may be at significant risk for developing more severe neurological disorders. These results provide a basis for studies on the toxic effects of THS in humans and inform potential regulatory policies to prevent involuntary exposure to THS.