Tobacco Residues Persist in Carpets, Despite Cleaning Efforts
In environments where smoking has been prevalent, traces of tobacco persist on indoor surfaces long after smoking ceases, creating what is known as thirdhand smoke. Recent research led by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) focuses on carpets as a particularly stubborn reservoir for tobacco contaminants.
Thirdhand smoke compounds not only settle into surfaces but can also re-enter the air, potentially transforming into new types of pollutants. Carpets, in particular, absorb and retain these contaminants effectively. The study, recently published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, examined the effectiveness of ozonation—a common cleaning method—on smoke-exposed carpets.
Researchers evaluated aged carpets from homes in San Diego and new carpets exposed to fresh smoke in lab settings. While ozonation partially removed certain compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, it proved ineffective at eliminating deeply embedded nicotine due to the material’s chemical shield. The study was conducted in Berkeley Lab’s Air Quality Testing Laboratory and the Molecular Foundry.
Supported by grants from the University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, the research underscores carpets as significant reservoirs and sources of thirdhand smoke contaminants.
Xiaochen Tang, lead author of the study, suggests that ozone’s limited penetration into materials means that carpet replacement may be the most effective solution.
While ozonation has been used to remediate tobacco contaminants, including thirdhand smoke, its limitations highlight the need for further research into alternative cleaning methods. Next steps will involve assessing the role of other indoor surfaces, such as drywall and upholstery.
The study underscores the complexities of cleaning tobacco contaminants and the need for thorough evaluation of remediation methods to ensure effective removal.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, founded in 1931, addresses scientific challenges through collaborative research. Berkeley Lab scientists have been honored with 16 Nobel Prizes and focus on sustainable energy solutions, materials innovation, computing advancements, and fundamental scientific inquiries. The lab is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The DOE Office of Science supports basic research in the physical sciences and seeks solutions to pressing global challenges. For more information, visit energy.gov/science.
In environments where smoking has been prevalent, traces of tobacco persist on indoor surfaces long after smoking ceases, creating what is known as thirdhand smoke. Recent research led by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) focuses on carpets as a particularly stubborn reservoir for tobacco contaminants.
Thirdhand smoke compounds not only settle into surfaces but can also re-enter the air, potentially transforming into new types of pollutants. Carpets, in particular, absorb and retain these contaminants effectively. The study, recently published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, examined the effectiveness of ozonation—a common cleaning method—on smoke-exposed carpets.
Researchers evaluated aged carpets from homes in San Diego and new carpets exposed to fresh smoke in lab settings. While ozonation partially removed certain compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, it proved ineffective at eliminating deeply embedded nicotine due to the material’s chemical shield. The study was conducted in Berkeley Lab’s Air Quality Testing Laboratory and the Molecular Foundry.
Supported by grants from the University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, the research underscores carpets as significant reservoirs and sources of thirdhand smoke contaminants.
Xiaochen Tang, lead author of the study, suggests that ozone’s limited penetration into materials means that carpet replacement may be the most effective solution.
While ozonation has been used to remediate tobacco contaminants, including thirdhand smoke, its limitations highlight the need for further research into alternative cleaning methods. Next steps will involve assessing the role of other indoor surfaces, such as drywall and upholstery.
The study underscores the complexities of cleaning tobacco contaminants and the need for thorough evaluation of remediation methods to ensure effective removal.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, founded in 1931, addresses scientific challenges through collaborative research. Berkeley Lab scientists have been honored with 16 Nobel Prizes and focus on sustainable energy solutions, materials innovation, computing advancements, and fundamental scientific inquiries. The lab is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The DOE Office of Science supports basic research in the physical sciences and seeks solutions to pressing global challenges. For more information, visit energy.gov/science.
