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Smoking’s latest deterrent – Metro US

Smoking’s latest deterrent

Third-hand smoke is the new deterrent to smoking in vehicles.

According to Jonathan Winickoff, a pediatrician at the Massachusetts General Hospital who released a report on the dangers of the toxins that cling to surrounding surfaces, second-hand smoke is no longer the only known danger kids face in vehicles with smokers.

“Children who are young and in the vehicle will touch the surfaces and ingest the tobacco toxins,” said Winickoff, adding that children are 20 times more susceptible due to their smaller size and closer proximity to tobacco-ridden surface.

While it’s still legal to drive and smoke, at least in Calgary, Ald. Dale Hodges said he wouldn’t discount the possibility of Calgary following Okotoks’ lead in banning smoking in cars with children.

“These days I wouldn’t rule out anything that might arrive on a city council agenda,” he said. “It could happen.”

Although he wouldn’t be the one to bring it to the table, he suggests that Calgarians make some noise about it if they really want it to happen.

But Ald. Ray Jones said it needs to be the province’s responsibility.
“We’ve got enough issues to deal with,” he said.

Even if you don’t have children to worry about, the resale value of your vehicle also plummets once you light up inside as the smoke film can last for months,” Winickoff said.
“There may be no way to truly clean a car that’s been smoked in.”