When ‘vape-free’ should mean ‘smoke-free’: third-hand e-cigarette residues and the developing lung

E-cigarettes are widely perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco, and that perception often extends to their use around infants and children. Yet exhaled aerosol deposits onto indoor surfaces, leaving a residue, known as third-hand e-cigarette aerosol, that can be re-emitted, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. The developmental consequences of such exposure have been almost entirely unexplored.

Citation:
Larcombe AN. When ‘vape-free’ should mean ‘smoke-free’: third-hand e-cigarette residues and the developing lung. Pediatr Res. 2026.

Keywords:
E-cigarettes; tobacco; infants and children; lung dysfunction; neutrophilic inflammation

Abstract:
E-cigarettes are widely perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco, and that perception often extends to their use around infants and children. Yet exhaled aerosol deposits onto indoor surfaces, leaving a residue, known as third-hand e-cigarette aerosol, that can be re-emitted, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. The developmental consequences of such exposure have been almost entirely unexplored.