Tracing PAHs in Indoor Dusts as Thirdhand Smoke: The Association With Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Probabilistic Human Risk Assessment

Tobacco smoke is a significant contributor to indoor air pollution and poses serious health risks. This study surveyed the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoker household dust and the association between PAHs in dust and symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS). Sixty samples of settled household dust (20 samples from homes with waterpipe smoker, 20 samples from homes with cigarette smoker, and 20 samples from smoke-free home as control group) were collected from Bandar Abbas City. Two residents of each home, who did not smoke, also completed a survey about SBS symptoms. The concentrations of PAHs were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The average ΣPAH concentrations were 1039.66 ± 75.37, 917.51 ± 63.15, and 330.08 ± 58.22 ng/g in dust samples from homes with waterpipe smokers, homes with cigarette smokers, and smoke-free homes. In waterpipe and cigarette smoker homes, a significant relationship was observed between the ΣPAHs levels and reports of headache, skin dryness, skin itching, dryness and inflammation, and abnormal fatigue. The cancer risk of exposure to PAHs via household dust in adults and children based on home groups was waterpipe smokers residents > cigarette smokers > nonsmokers. Total cancer risk from PAH exposure in all three home groups was higher than 1.00E − 4. Multidisciplinary cooperation and participation, including tobacco control, environmental science, medicine, and health promotion, are needed for the effectiveness of management strategies to have a sufficient understanding of the routes of exposure, mechanisms of damage, and identification of vulnerable groups and how to control exposure.