Study: 97% of children have traces of nicotine on their hands

By Maria Collinge via SWNS

Nearly all children have traces of nicotine on their hands - even those from non-smoking homes, reveals a new study.

Researchers found that 97 percent of youngsters had traces - with low-income and black families showing the highest levels.

The team from San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of Cincinnati swabbed the hands of 504 American children under the age of 11.

The findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, revealed that 97 percent had at least small traces of nicotine on their hands.

Worryingly, 95 percent of children from non-smoking households also had traces of nicotine on their palms, revealing that tobacco residue is particularly persistent on dust and surfaces.

Dr. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre and who led data collection for the project, said: “One result of this research should be to include thirdhand smoke as part of parental smoking cessation education programs.”

The amount of nicotine on children’s hands also varied by income and race.

Co-author Professor Penelope Quintana said: “Low-income children and children of black parents have the most of this involuntary exposure.

“This is a wake-up call to protect vulnerable children and is an overlooked part of housing disparities.”

The researchers hope their findings will offer further evidence to support stricter smoking bans, remediation practices, and policies requiring estate agents and landlords to disclose third-hand smoke levels in homes.

Professor Georg Matt, of SDSU, added: “This study filled an important gap.

“We have done a lot of research about third-hand smoke in private homes, cars, hotels, and casinos, but we haven’t had access to clinical populations.”