Smoking Indoors Weakens Immune System of Infants, Stunts Growth - Study

Smoking cigarettes indoors will leave a sticky residue on the furniture and other home appliances, which scientists have dubbed third-hand smoking.

This sticky substance, if it goes inside the system, can stunt babies' growth and weaken their immune system. The new-born babies at home are especially affected by the yellow substance, scientists warn smokers.

Little toddlers are at greater risk as they crawl, explore the house and put different objects in their mouth. But the bright fact is that the harm is reversible by removing the toxic substance and its source. The alarm was first raised in 2010 when researches reveled that nicotine's reaction in the air can create carcinogens. Scientists confirmed this finding by studying mice that grew up in a contaminated house, reports Daily mail.

The mice weighed lesser than those brought up in a nicotine free environment. But the good news is that the bad effects are reversible as the published study says. The rodents showed better health as soon as they were released from the dirty environment.  Exposure to nicotine leads to prominent changes in blood cells count important for immunity.

The toxic particles that that are filled in the cigarette smoke settle on the surface of everything at home and stay there for long. Passive exposure to smoke consists of serious danger to the health of everyone around the smoker whether in his home or office, according to Live Strong.

Currently smoking cigarettes claims six million lives per year. And till 2030 the number will increase one-third more, especially in low-income countries, the World Health Organization warned in a landmark study last month.

In some countries, the tobacco smoking has risen which may give the figure a little higher push. While incessant studies and researches are warning people of dangers and risks of smoking to the environment to the children of smokers, there is a very little decrease in smoking.