Homeopathic Smoking
By Dave Hitt on Feb 13, 2010 in Junk Science
Last year the nicotine nannies (NNs) took their Second Hand Smoke nonsense a step further and announced that third hand smoke (THS?) was deadly.  The evidence consisted of someone doing a survey, asking people if they believed this nonsense, then presenting that as scientific proof.  “Journalists” ran with the story, declaring that smokers who had politely avoided smoking near anyone were still deadly bags of toxins. That’s not hyperbole: the gullible Dr. Nancy Snyderman declared, on national TV, that smokers were “a walking toxic dump.”
The purpose of this is, of course, is to continue the NNs tireless crusade to make non-smokers hate and fear smokers.
This kind of nonsense might be amusing if it didn’t have such serious consequences. In the UK one hospital banned smokers from visiting patients, for fear of third hand smoke contamination.
The latest “study” on THS comes out of Berkley. (Surprise!) Unable to find any dangerous levels of anything in THS, they exposed particulates to nitrous acid and announced that it resulted in horrible deadly tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)
The study hasn’t been published yet, so they’re using the oh-so-respectable method of Science-By-Press-Release to spread their message of fear and hate. In their release they mention children, toddlers and infants over and over and over. Of course.
Just how much of this stuff have they managed to fabricate in their lab? The lead “researcher” explains: “Whereas the sidestream smoke of one cigarette contains at least 100 nanograms equivalent total TSNAs, our results indicate that several hundred nanograms per square meter of nitrosamines may be formed on indoor surfaces in the presence of nitrous acid.â€
Most people don’t douse their furniture or their smoking friends with nitrous acid, but for the sake of this thought experiment let’s pretend they do. How much toxin is he talking about?
A nanogram is a billionth of a gram. A single grain of salt weighs about 120,000 nanograms. Let’s assume this shill’s extremely imprecise “several hundred” means 300. Hell, let’s make it 500 to make the math easier. We’re talking the mass of 1/240 of a grain of salt spread over a square meter. Oooo, scary stuff.
You’ll find a more complete explanation of the “study” here.
As someone commented on this blog, at these levels talking about Homeopathic Smoking. Homeopathy claims that diluting a toxin increases its strength, so reducing exposure to THS or SHS increases the danger. Quick, get to a smoke-filled room!
My contempt for these dirt-bag hate-mongering pseudo-scientists exceeds my ability to articulate it. They should be stripped of everything they own, including their obviously meaningless degrees, and forced to stand in the middle of the freeway holding signs that say, “Will Fabricate Facts For Food.” That won’t happen until I’m made King of The World, which is a ways off, so expect to see more of this nonsense flooding the media in the months and years to come.
seriously? Third hand smoke..! So let me get this straight, third hand smoke or the smell of smoke, is going to kill us..? Being smoke free for nearly 2 years now, I can honestly say that being in smoke filled rooms is irritating and uncomfortable but not dangerous. It’s also a personal CHOICE! Don’t be in that environment if you don’t want to, and show some fucking respect and NOT demand that everywhere changes to suit your needs, how old are these fuck-toads, 4?!?! None of my buddies garages even come close to, oh say a room on fire. Seriously, when will this stop, I don’t believe these fascist assholes will give up once every smoker is hung in every town square from coast to coast. They will start pissing all over dinner plates because of some other bullshit personal distaste for an ingredient, condiment or main coarse.
Insanity in large groups, is not a sudden, bone jarring event. It is a mind numbingly slow erosion, and so are these nit-pickers of our fundamental choices. The decades may pass by, with one choice after another being taken away, each choice a little less invasive to your neighbors, friends and co-workers then the last. Unless of course the concept of freedom, and choice and respect are given the voice and the spine the so desperately need.
m0nk3y | Feb 17, 2010 | Reply
I’ve come to the conclusion that smokers aren’t very smart. I keep trying to tell smokers I know that smokers are over 20 percent of the voting population and should vote the Nazis out. But they don’t even seem to care. It’s very frustrating to talk to people who don’t realize that the are loosing their freedom. I think all the care about is freedom to watch slime oozing out of their T.V. set.
Hall | Feb 20, 2010 | Reply
The complacency of smokers is incredibly frustrating. If just 10% of them would donate the cost of a carton of smokes they’d be able to create an organization that would dwarf the NRA and AARP put together. But no, the vast majority of them just stand in the rain and bitch, then vote in the same assholes the kicked them to the curb in the first place.
You get extra points for a Zappa reference.
Hittman | Feb 20, 2010 | Reply
Dave, but the problem is that most politicians will fuck smokers in the first place and there is only a handful that don’t. Who do you vote for when your choices are to be moderately fucked, really fucked, or completely fucked?
Harley | Feb 21, 2010 | Reply
You make a good point Harley. In todays political light you cannot pick on race, sex and to a lesser extent sexual orientation so you have to rally the sheep around a supposed crusade on their behalf for the health of the nation. Its easier to single out smokers for their addiction. This type of political hypocrisy will continue and spread. My guess will be the overweight are the next targets. Which will be interesting because the definition of obese is hilarious. A pencil thin person at my work thats pretty tall is 2% weight away from obesity. Many people of average build will never make it. Not to mention it is far cheaper to eat crap then healthy.
In the end its far easier for politicians to get everyone worked up over supposed epidemics and social decay then speak honestly and frankly about sustaining basic freedoms instead of legislating away those rights due to some groups disgust..
a’ight.. rant done.. peace
m0nk3y | Feb 21, 2010 | Reply
Third hand smoke is nothing more than annoying. As an ex smoker, I don’t appreciate second hand smoke and to be in a bar or an office that is filled with smoke or makes clothing stink does violate non smoker’s rights. Even when I smoked I always took it outside. There are occasions that third hand can make someone sick. Im a nurse and when heavy duty smokers visit someone, they literally do stink up the room and we’ve had to move sensitive people in the next bed out of there. Otherwise, I think its a crock of crap. Someone stinks…move away. That’s pushing it too far.
Lisa | Feb 21, 2010 | Reply
I heard something about this on the radio a while back. I thought it was a joke. I should have known better.
AtheistInEden | Apr 15, 2010 | Reply
if it’s so dangerous, why does congress exempt themselves and allow smoking?
did you hear they have came up with a vaccine for nicotine addiction? Yep ..guess that was part of the plan $$$$
No way are they putting that stuff into my body.
Funny how people don’t mind getting a good dose of harsh chemicals put into their veins but a harmless smoke bothers them.
angie | Jun 4, 2010 | Reply