New York Times cites UC research in story about second-and thirdhand smoke
Health columnist Jane E. Brody quotes University of Cincinnati professors as she makes the case that parents should keep their children out of places smoking is permitted
Research penned by University of Cincinnati faculty members inspired The New York Times personal health columnist Jane E. Brody to write about the ongoing threat posed by second- and thirdhand smoke to the health of children exposed to them.
In "The Risks to Children From Adults Who Smoke," Brody makes the case that children should be kept away from places where smoking is permitted, even if no one is smoking at a given time.
"Wise parents should keep their children out of any environment where smoking is allowed, even if no one is smoking there at the time," Brody writes. "The reason? Growing concern about the potential harms caused by exposure to the nicotine and other tobacco toxicants in thirdhand smoke that linger in the environment long after the smoke is gone."
Brody's argument relies on published research by UC faculty members about the effects of chronic tobacco exposure on children in both the short and long term. First she cites the work of Dr. E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens and colleagues at UC, published in March 2017 in Tobacco Control. Mahabee-Gittens and company discovered that the residue from secondhand smoke accumulates on smokers and the surfaces in the vicinity of where they smoke, and that those toxicants can easily get on children's hands and into their bodies.
She also quotes human services professor Ashley L. Merianos, whose research published recently in Pediatrics finds that as little as one hour of exposure to secondhand smoke per week can have a significant impact on the health of adolescents.
Brody is among the most prominent health writers in the world, having served in her role as personal health columnist for The New York Times since 1976. Her widely read column appears in The Times' Science Times section and in numerous newspapers across the country.
A research powerhouse
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research I institution by the Carnegie Commission, and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's top 35 public research universities. UC's graduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Learn more about advanced degrees at UC.
Related Stories
UC expert helps rehome endangered Ohio bats
August 19, 2026
UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Assistant Professor Joe Johnson is helping an Ohio marine rehome bats to make way for renovations. He launched a new tracking project that uses tiny transmitters that record bat migration using the internet of things.
Helping first-generation students explore the world
August 19, 2026
When Penny Wills, CECH ’74, began her undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, every experience was fresh and exciting.
UC student keeps ransomware raiders at bay
August 19, 2026
UC cybersecurity student Ethan Bernhardt uses his skills to keep ransomware at bay and protect sensitive data during co-ops at Kroger and U.S. Bank in Cincinnati.
UC scholarship honoring a family’s matriarch continues
August 17, 2026
“I get chills thinking about what she means to our family,” says Norma Wellman Cobb’s grandson, Thomas Beach, reflecting on how his grandmother’s perseverance and unwavering belief in the power of education shaped generations.
UC co-op earnings climb to $99.5 million
August 17, 2026
University of Cincinnati co-op students earned $99.5 million in 2025-26, a 5.69% increase, with 9,614 co-op enrollments and 1,798 employers across top industries.
UC’s Center for Youth Futures celebrates five years
August 14, 2026
Since 2021 the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Youth Futures (CYF) has, as its name makes clear, worked to provide opportunities for today’s youth to discover and pursue exciting futures through education. For the past five years, the center (which operates out of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology—CECH) has offered a series of programs to youth in grades 4 through 12 that seek to build student academic understanding and emotional intelligence as well as provide education and career pathway information.