Most of us have heard the term “second-hand smoke.” This is the smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette or is exhaled by a smoker. It’s airborne and noticeable because it has a distinct odor. Some studies indicate that frequent inhaling of second-hand smoke can be as dangerous—if not more so—to the nonsmoker as it is to people who do smoke.

Now a new term has emerged: “third-hand smoke.” This is a concept hotel owners/managers should become familiar with because third-hand smoke can cause a variety of health problems for hotel guests, especially young children.

Third-hand smoke refers to the nicotine residue that’s left behind on surfaces after a cigarette has been smoked. Studies indicate the nicotine in third-hand smoke reacts with indoor air causing potentially toxic pollutants to form that settle on carpet fibers, upholstery, walls, draperies and other surfaces. Third-hand smoke isn’t airborne and typically has no odor, so it can be hard to detect. Further, inhaling third-hand smoke is not what is dangerous. The danger with third-hand smoke comes from touching it on carpets and other surfaces.

“Third-hand smoke is a stealth toxin [and] lingers on surfaces in homes, hotel guestrooms, and cars used by smokers,” says Virender Rehan, MD, with the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, who has studied the impact of third-hand smoke. “Children, the elderly and other vulnerable people may be exposed to the toxicants without realizing the dangers. Pregnant women should avoid places where third-hand smoke is likely to be found to protect their unborn children against the potential damage these toxins can cause to the developing infants' lungs.”

Studies indicate the most common third-hand smoke exposure “hot spots” in a hotel guestroom are the carpets, chairs and sofas. These are of particular concern for parents traveling with young children. Often parents let children play on guestroom carpets. If third-hand smoke is present, they may be exposed to a health risk.

Fortunately, it is possible to remove third-hand smoke and its toxins from surfaces, especially carpets and upholstered furniture. The most effective way is through the use of carpet extractors.

Typically, portable carpet extractors are employed to clean carpets and upholstery in hotel guestrooms. These machines can do a fine job as long as they generate enough cleaning power. Equipment with adjustable 500 psi (pounds per square inch—a measure of pressure) is most effective. The lower settings can be used for more delicate fabrics … the higher settings for cleaning carpets.

Many portables clean using cold water. In most cases, this should be sufficient. However, it might be advisable to remove third-hand smoke toxins to use a machine that heats the water/cleaning solution. Heat has been shown to improve the effectiveness of cleaning agents, helping dissolve and remove more stubborn stains and contaminants. Also consider machines tested and evaluated by the Carpet and Rug Institute, especially one that have higher ratings, such as a Gold certification. These machines have been third-party evaluated and meet stringent standards for cleaning effectiveness, moisture recovery and carpet appearance after cleaning.

Further, increase the frequency of cleaning carpets and upholstery in designated smoking guestrooms. There are no recommendations now available as to how often they should be cleaned, but in a heavily used hotel guestroom, a thorough extraction of carpets and upholstery once a month should help minimize the potential health risks of third-hand smoke.

Doug Berjer is brand manager for CFR, manufacturers of recycling carpet extractors. He may be reached thru his company website.

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