News item | 19-05-2022 | 07:00
Documentary portrays harmful effects for babies and small children
Even if parents or carers only smoke outside, children come into contact with the harmful substances in cigarettes. A new mini-documentary about third-hand smoke provides insight into how harmful substances are taken into the home after smoking unnoticed. Babies and small children in particular run the risk of ingesting this third-hand smoke, while parents feel that they are consciously and cautiously dealing with smoking. The documentary is a new part of the PUUR smoke-free campaign with the aim of inspiring smoking parents to make a serious attempt to quit (again).
You really don’t have to stop alone
State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen (VWS): “The documentary is a real one eye opener† The phenomenon of third-hand smoke is still relatively unknown to many people. But this experiment shows very confrontingly that smoking is always a danger. Even if parents really do their best to handle it with care and awareness. That’s why quitting smoking is so important. Quitting isn’t easy at all, but you really don’t have to do it alone. Talk about it with your doctor, who can think along about what good help is in your own situation. Moreover, this smoking cessation aid does not come at the expense of your deductible, so it is not a cost item.”
Confrontational Experiment
The documentary follows two families with smoking parents during a confrontational experiment. The parents want the best for their children and smoke out of their reach, but are not aware of the effects of third-hand smoke. These are all harmful substances that end up on your hands, clothes or surfaces during and after smoking, for example, and are absorbed again at a later time. You inhale third-hand smoke by inhaling it, by touching it or by putting things in the mouth on which the particles have ended up. In the experiment, the parents get an invisible UV liquid on their hands. For an hour they go about the normal daily family things and then turn on the UV light. Then it becomes painfully clear where the harmful particles can end up after smoking. From the furniture to the food and from the toys to the faces of the children.
Children less complaints after parents stop
Noor Rikkers-Mutsaerts is a pediatric pulmonologist at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC): “At my consultation hours, I see children who suffer from coughing, recurring ear infections and worsening asthma. When their parents stop smoking, the cough and ear complaints become less or even disappear, asthma becomes more treatable.”
Smoking cessation necessary
In addition to self-smoking (first-hand) and second-hand smoke, third-hand smoke is also harmful. The exposure to secondhand smoke is relatively short and large. Third-hand smoke is of a lower intensity but longer lasting. Marc Willemsen is an expert on tobacco control, affiliated with the Trimbos Institute: “Relatively little is known about it, but researchers estimate that up to 60% of the health damage usually attributed to secondhand smoke is actually caused by third-hand smoke. . Children and babies are most at risk because they crawl around, spend more time indoors and touch and put things in their mouths. The health risks are therefore much greater for them than for adults. That is why it is necessary to stop smoking.”
About PURE smoke-free
The PUUR smoke-free campaign is an initiative of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). The aim is to encourage smokers to make a serious attempt to quit, until they have finally stopped. The emphasis is on the positive aspects of a smoke-free life and inspires smokers to think about their life as a non-smoker. A life with better health, less stress, better condition, more beautiful skin, cleaner teeth and a mental boost. The campaign was developed in collaboration with Trimbos Institute, Health Funds for Smoke-Free, Pharos and Stoptober. For more information see also puresmokefree.nl†