Jessica Wynn

They're convinced it's water vapor, but you're definitely exposed.

That's secondhand aerosol, and it's filled with nicotine and chemicals.

And then there's something called thirdhand exposure.

So first hand is what the person vaping inhales.

Second hand is what you or I inhale if we're near them.

But third hand is the residue.

Okay.

So the nicotine and chemicals that cling to walls, furniture, clothing, even car seats.

You don't think about it, but it's also your clothes, your curtains, even your mattress if you vape indoors.

And the chemicals just don't sit there.

They break down and become microscopic toxic dust.

So people can absorb these microparticles through skin contact or dust inhalation.

And children are especially vulnerable because they crawl around, they touch everything, and they put all sorts of stuff in their mouths.

No, definitely not.

And I'd even look out for kissing guys with beards who vape.

And the same goes for your pets.

You know, dogs and cats groom themselves.

They lick the residue off their fur, which means they ingest nicotine and toxins, too.

So studies link this to respiratory illnesses in our animals.

No, I didn't know that.