Secondhand Marijuana Smoke and Residue Exposure Risks in Homes and Buildings

Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure has long been recognized as a health concern for nonsmokers. With the increasing number of states that now allow medical marijuana and the growing list that also permit recreational marijuana use, secondhand marijuana smoke is also becoming a concern.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Smoked marijuana has many of the same cancer-causing substances as smoked tobacco, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions around secondhand marijuana smoke exposure and its impact on chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and lung diseases.

Secondhand marijuana smoke does contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. The smoke is also a complex mixture of many other chemicals and particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM can cause lung irritation, may trigger an asthma attack in some people with the condition and can be a concern for people who have COPD or other lung diseases.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment lists marijuana smoke as a carcinogen and reproductive toxin on its Proposition 65 list. Some of the substances found in marijuana smoke listed by OEHHA include 1,3-butadiene, arsenic, benzene, benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium, carbon monoxide, hexavalent chromium, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, nickel, and toluene.

“Over 20 million Americans smoke marijuana on a monthly basis according to the CDC,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “It’s not just the smoke exposure for nonsmokers that can be a concern, residues left on surfaces can also contain a host of chemicals, including THC. These residues can be especially concerning for families with young children and their hand-to-mouth actions. EMSL offers air and surface testing services to detect smoke and residues from marijuana and tobacco. For residues, we even carry easy-to-use test kits.”

EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about secondhand marijuana smoke exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Yld5gP8Hz2M.

To learn more about this or other indoor environmental quality, occupational, environmental, health, and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675, or email  info@EMSL.com . For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail