Vaping produces secondhand aerosol, which people nearby inhale. According to the US Surgeon General, secondhand aerosol from vaping can contain harmful chemicals such as nicotine, diacetyl, and heavy metals. Concerns about the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke have led a number of states to pass laws banning smoking in many public areas. These laws protect the health of customers and staff. Some states have enacted similar laws to protect people from secondhand aerosol. If you share the air with people who are smoking or vaping, taking certain steps can reduce your risk of exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol:● ●● Avoid spending time in places that allow smoking and vaping. ● Do not accept car rides from people who smoke or vape while driving. ● ● Ask that people smoke or vape only outdoors or in a particular room sealed off from the rest of a home or building. ● ● Increase air circulation in buildings where people smoke or vape by opening the windows to let in fresh air. ● ● Perhaps most importantly, encourage a friend or family member who smokes or vapes to stop and support the person’s efforts toward quitting. Thirdhand Smoke and Aerosol Thirdhand smoke refers to the particles and gases left over after a cigarette is extinguished. Similarly, the particles and gases left over from a vaping device are called thirdhand aerosol. The particles in thirdhand smoke and aerosol land and remain on virtually any surface in the area where someone has smoked or vaped (Figure 11.10). Exposure to thirdhand smoke and aerosol can lead to serious diseases such as asthma and cancer. These chemicals can even become more dangerous over time. secondhand aerosol suspension of fine particles that people inhale involuntarily when someone nearby is vaping thirdhand smoke particles and gases left over after someone smokes a cigarette remains on surfaces nearby Thirdhand Smoke and Aerosol Car Interiors Carpets Walls Left to right: Peter Gudella/Shutterstock.com Artazum/Shutterstock.com Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com Figure 11.10 The particles and gases left over from cigarettes and vaping devices remain on nearby surfaces and are difficult to clean away. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 11 Vaping and Tobacco 377