IAQ Testing Services

Cinnaminson, New Jersey, August 27, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a factsheet about the health risks of secondhand smoke and aerosols. In it, the agency warns that smoking tobacco or marijuana, and vaping with e-cigarettes or other devices, can release harmful chemicals into the air.

People around the smoker or vaper are also exposed to these chemicals and this is known as secondhand exposure. For secondhand tobacco smoke, EPA reports it contains more than 7,000 chemicals. It can cause lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, and exposure can result in early deaths among nonsmokers. Secondhand tobacco smoke can also cause health problems in infants and children. These include sudden infant death syndrome, and respiratory and ear infections. Secondhand smoke can also cause more frequent and severe asthma attacks in children with asthma.

Secondhand marijuana smoke is described by the EPA as a mixture of the smoke from a burning marijuana product and the smoke a smoker breathes out. It can expose bystanders to potentially harmful chemicals. In fact, secondhand marijuana smoke has many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke, some of them in higher amounts.

EPA cautions that e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking products that heat a liquid create an aerosol that is a mix of tiny particles and/or droplets in the air. Some of the harmful substances emitted in secondhand e-cigarette aerosols are the same as those emitted in secondhand tobacco smoke. The aerosols from electronic smoking products can include possibly dangerous chemicals, including nicotine, formaldehyde, and metals. Some of which cause cancer and other harmful health effects.

Avoiding smoking and vaping inside or near homes, buildings, vehicles, and other enclosed spaces can stop secondhand exposure and the health risks that may come with it, but this doesn’t always happen,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “When used indoors, even after a person stops vaping or smoking, some of the chemicals released can remain for a long time. These chemicals can build up on hard surfaces such as walls and tables, and embed in soft surfaces like clothing and carpets. In some cases, these chemicals can be released back into the air.”   

Those concerned about exposure to nicotine, particulate matter (PM), metals, VOCs, and other chemicals from e-cigarettes, or from tobacco or marijuana smoke, can turn to EMSL Analytical for answers. Their environmental testing specialists provide laboratory services, sampling supplies, and test kits for these and other respiratory hazards and surface contaminants. EMSL also offers air monitoring instruments to detect PM and other airborne pollutants. They have even sponsored an educational video about the EPA’s list of health risks from secondhand smoke and aerosols that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/XmvT4fCToto 

To learn more about this or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675, or email info@EMSL.com. For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

 

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.