The latest fears raised by a new study, is of third hand smoke which experts say is also just as dangerous as second hand smoke. The term coined by doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston refers to the residual contamination from tobacco smoke that remains after a cigarette is put out.

According to the researchers third hand smoke refers to toxic dust that settles onto surfaces and can spread in the air and the toxic chemicals left on furniture, rugs, clothing and in you hair can linger long after you've smoked a cigarette.

"Children are especially susceptible to third-hand smoke exposure because they breathe near, crawl and play on, touch and mouth contaminated surfaces," according to the study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Dr. Allan Feingold, the Medical Director of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at South Miami Hospital said, "The smoke that was in the room, even if it's no longer visible, has precipitated. It has left residuals on the surfaces and on the person and clothing and hair of the people who were smoking and that infants and children are particularly susceptible to the bad effects of that kind of smoke, including ultimately with the cancer and other diseases."

Smoke residuals can contain 250 cancerous chemicals, metals and gases and contact with these can not only cause cancer, they can also cause sudden infant death syndrome said Feingold.

The study was conducted by the Massachusetts General researchers and 1500 households took part in the study. Although the vast majority of both smokers and nonsmokers were aware that second-hand smoke is harmful to children, very few were aware of the risks of third-hand smoke.

The state of Arkansas ranks tenth in tobacco use with 20 % of high school students and 22 % of adults smoking. Dr. Carolyn Dresler with the Arkansas Department of Health said, "Both of those rates have been coming down, but obviously we have a long way to go."

With the newly added threat of third hand smoke the health department says it's never too late to stop. "If you quit smoking in middle age, you are statistically unlikely to die from tobacco related disease. But if you continue to smoke, you have a 50/50 chance of dying from using tobacco," Dresler said.

How long does the effect of third hand smoke linger? According to Dr. Feingold "It may never be safe because the residual material may remain on surfaces for years." Joel Africk, president and CEO of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, said that the Pediatrics study does not call for legislation that would ban smoking in private homes instead serving as a reminder to all smokers and non-smokers.