Questions About Third-Hand Smoke

I missed this study from Pediatrics over the New Year's holiday. Researchers say "third hand smoke," which is smoking residue that lingers in people's hair or clothing, can damage the health of babies. A new survey shows that most people are unaware of the danger. So, even stepping outside to smoke does NOT protect infants from third-hand smoke. (Discover Magazine)

Obviously, no one in this day and age should be smoking--whether it is cigarettes, pipes, cigars. And yet, I have a question. Is third-hand smoking less harmful than second-hand smoking? Given the addictive nature of smoking, we don't want current smokers to just throw up their hands and decide to come into the room and smoke near the baby because they are "damned if they do and damned if they don't."

Read an abstract of the Pediatrics' study on attitudes about second-hand and third-hand smoke here.