News Chemistry

Thirdhand smoke wafting off moviegoers hurts air quality in theaters

The pollution is released from tobacco residue on people’s bodies and clothing

movie theater

Audience members who have been around cigarette smoke can contaminate the air of nonsmoking movie theaters with tobacco residue left on their bodies and clothing, a new study finds.

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By Maria Temming

- More than 2 years ago

“Nonsmoking” doesn’t necessarily mean smoke-free.

A new experiment monitoring airborne contaminants inside a nonsmoking theater indicates that hazardous cigarette fumes wafting off moviegoers can degrade air quality.