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Does Smoking Of Tobacco In Rooms Affect The Quality Of Tap Water?

Posted on Fri, 13 May 2016

Question: I am living in student accommodation, i know that two of my roommate smoke in the shared kitchen frequently, every time they smoke, they would open window and kitchen ventilator. The question is that "would the third hand smoke contaminate the tap water from kitchen?" If so , what can i do?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
the water cannot be affected...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

the smoke in your room does not affect the quality of the tap water. Smoking may affect your lungs and general health though because passive smoking is dangerous. Smoking may affect the water quality indirectly in the long term because the leftovers of the cigarettes are toxic and insoluble and they end up in the ground, thus polluting the water sources and negatively affecting the environment.

I hope I've answered your question. If you'd like any clarification, I'll be glad to provide it!

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (34 minutes later)

Firstly, Thank for your reply! I worry about the quality of tap water is because i viewed this article from NHS. It is talking about the cigarette residues will remain on the wall or something, and so hard to clean. I just wonder would it attach to the internal of tap pipe?

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/02February/Pages/third-hand-smoking-child-risk.aspx

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
no documented danger...

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!

I understand your concerns. The wall contamination is a well-known effect of smoking and sometimes it's even visible if the inhabitant is not very keen on cleaning... The tap water seems to be a different case though. Running water cleans the dirt and no similar effects are expected. There is no study that I know that has addressed this issue but it seems reasonable to believe that there is no problem with tap water.

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (45 minutes later)

Thank you, i understand your interpretation now. One more question, I am a foreigner and i was not living in UK, can i ask is it safe to drink tap water from bedroom, what is the difference between kitchen and bedroom's tap water?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
it depends....

Detailed Answer:
I can't say... I suppose it depends on whether the local water supply is supposed to be used for drinking or for bathing only. You've got to ask the local authorities for that. The kitchen and bathroom water supply is usually the same. I wouldn't drink the warm water though...

Kind Regards!

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar