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(123rf) |
미국의 온라인 과학 전문지 사이언스 데일리는 지난 2일(이하 한국시간) 마누엘라 마르틴스-그린(Manuela Martins-Green) 교수가 이끄는 미국 리버사이드 캘리포니아대학 세포생물연구팀의 연구 결과 제3의 흡연(third-hand smoke) 노출도 간과 폐에 심각한 손상을 일으키는 것으로 나타났다고 보도했다.
'제 3의 흡연'이란 담배 연기의 독성물질이 카펫 등 주변 환경에 섞여 오랜 시간 방치되면 간접흡연을 하는 것과 같은 영향을 받게 된다는 것을 의미한다. 담배를 피우는 사람이 살다 나간 주택이나 아파트, 흡연자가 묵었던 호텔 방, 흡연 구역 등이 제3의 흡연에 노출되기 쉽다는 것이다.
제 3의 흡연 폐해 소식을 접한 누리꾼들은 “제 3의 흡연, 흡연자랑 생활하지 말아야겠네”, “제 3의 흡연, 비흡연자에게 피해 좀 주지 맙시다”, “제 3의 흡연, 흡연자들 권리 주장하기 전에 비흡연자들 건강권 보장하라”며 민감한 반응을 보였다.
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 기사>
Exposure to third-hand smoke can be deadly: study
Second-hand smoke has long been known to cause health problems, but the third-hand smoke is also deadly, a new study has suggested.
Third-hand smoke is defined as the second-hand smoke that is soaked into the surfaces, objects and other things around people.
A research team from the University of California, Riverside, studied the effects of third-hand smoke on several organ systems in mice.
The study found that third-hand smoke led to significant damage to the liver and lungs in mice, as well as increased wound healing time, which suggests that the third-hand smoke can also adversely impact humans.
“Children in environments where smoking is or has been allowed are at significant risk for suffering from multiple short-term and longer health problems, many of which may not manifest fully until later in life,” Manuela Martins-Green, a professor of cell biology who led the study, said in a statement Monday.
The researchers noted that third-hand smoke persists in houses, hotel rooms and other living spaces long after smokers move out, which heightens the risks of long-term health problems.
Tobacco remains a worldwide cause of serious health problems for smokers and non-smokers alike, estimated to affect some 1.5 billion people globally.
The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
