Evaluation of Third Hand Cigarette Smoke Exposure and Awareness in University Students

ABSTRACT Background:Third Hand Smoke (THS) is tobacco dust that settles in the environment after smoking. It combines with other pollutants in the air and diffuses back into the air. It can enter the systemic circulation by inhalation, absorption through the skin, and ingestion of tobacco dust-contaminated objects. It cannot be completely eliminated by ventilating and cleaning the environment. Exposure to THS negatively affects the health of all people, especially infants and children. The aim of the study is to reveal THS exposure and awareness in 6th grade students of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine and the factors associated with it. Methods and Results: As a data collection tool, a questionnaire consisting of a Beliefs About Third Hand Smoke (BATHS-T) Scale was prepared to recognize sociodemographic data form, smoking status, tobacco control policies, smoking bans at home and in the car, attitudes towards buying / renting a house / car, and THS awareness. Using an online survey, 322 people were reached. Conclusions: The mean BATHS-T (total) score of the participants was 37±8.0. Female gender, living with family, having good or higher academic achievement, not smoking, supporting anti-tobacco policies, not living with a smoker were associated with higher BATHS-T score. There was no statistically significant difference between the smoking ban at home and in the car and the BATHS-T score. In this respect, the study reached different results from the existing literature. Further studies is needed to elucidate this difference.