An article I read on Yahoo news today about third-hand smoke.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – You know smoking is bad for you. You know inhaling someone else's smoke is bad for you. Now a US study says third-hand smoke -- tobacco residue clinging to surfaces -- is also bad for you.

When a cigarette burns, nicotine is released in the form of a vapor that collects and condenses on indoor surfaces such as walls, carpeting, drapes and furniture, where it can linger for months, said the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

"Our study shows that when this residual nicotine reacts with ambient nitrous acid it forms carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs," said Hugo Destaillats, a corresponding author of the study.

"TSNAs are among the most broadly acting and potent carcinogens present in unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke," he said.

The most likely human exposure to TSNAs is through either inhalation of dust or the contact of skin with carpet or clothes -- making third-hand smoke particularly dangerous to infants and toddlers.

Opening a window or turning on a fan to air out a room while a cigarette burns does not eliminate the hazard of third-hand smoke. Smoking outdoors doesn't help much either.

"Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker's skin and clothing," said Lara Gundel, a co-author of the study.

"Those residues follow a smoker back inside and get spread everywhere. The biggest risk is to young children," she said.

"Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child's skin is likely to occur when the smoker returns and if nitrous acid is in the air, which it usually is, then TSNAs will be formed."

Substantial levels of TSNAs were also found in the truck of a heavy smoker, the study says, adding that most vehicle engines emit some nitrous acid that can infiltrate the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory led the study, which they say is the first to quantify the reactions of third-hand smoke with nitrous acid.

"And please," says Roger, "when you need to head for the ladies or the gents, just leave the room quietly and go. I have no need to know."

Happy CNY people~ although it's still abt half an hr away.

I shall try my best to enjoy this CNY despite the deadlines for various important assignments creeping up on me... and more importantly, the lack of someone I hold dear with me.

Te echo de menos.

Te amo, mi querido.

Te beso en mi corazón.

A video I found on Youtube which features a scottish fold kitten =3

Woke up earlier than usual today because of an unpleasant dream.

It was about some 40+ yr old man who snuck into my house through the door after I unlocked it n went to the kitchen. I saw that sneaky looking man in my room n demanded what he was doing in the house... then different scenarios kept flashing acroos my eyes.

Like how I locked the house door n locked myself in my room and called 999
Like how I trapped him in my mother's room with myself blocking the door while screaming for help
Like how I saw him holding my laptop and tried to get it back...

And the dream after that was even more unpleasant...

It wasn't the dream itself... but the feelings after I woke up with knowledge of the dream.. and how it could be reality...