Smokers concerned with their children’s health might avoid taking cigarettes when the kids are around. But that doesn’t leave the probability of secondhand and third-hand smoke getting into children’s lungs. Secondhand smoke emanates from the smoke exhaled by the smoker and also from the burning end of the cigarette. The third-hand smoke comes from the nicotine element that resides in the smoked location, like furniture, clothes or car seats. Like the secondhand smoke, the third-hand smoke can cause health risks on inhalation.

Secondhand Smoke Concerns? Dartmouth Researchers Have a Solution in Hand,

Children are defenseless against tobacco smoke, and it could create a potential atmosphere for bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and even infant death syndrome.

Seems like Dartmouth researchers have found out a solution to ward this off. They have developed a prototype device that can detect the nicotine content in the air. A size almost equal to that of a match box, the device has a sensor chip and polymer films to do the detection job.

They say it will measure the nicotine content in the secondhand smoke and will display it in real time.  With the real time feedback, parents can take preventive measures to avoid health hazards for their children.

Professor Joseph BelBruno of Dartmouth labs hopes to make the consumer version available with rechargeable battery, LED panel and reusable polymer films. He says that the project isn’t aimed at stopping smoking habits, but to safeguard children from secondhand smoke.

At the same time, it would invoke the truth about the level of extent of its harmful exposure and can possibly make people go a step closer to consider an end to smoking.