Toxins In Hotel Rooms

Many news reports have described health risks often found in hotel rooms: bathroom glasses that are unclean, quilts seldom laundered and inadequate ventilation. Researchers at San Diego State University have discovered another problem: toxins in hotel rooms that are linked to cancer. But these scientists also reveal an easy way to avoid the toxic danger.

The California researchers found that hotels that allow smoking have carcinogenic toxins in all the rooms. This is true even in non-smoking rooms. They caution that the only way to avoid the poisons is to stay in hotels that do not allow smoking anywhere on the premises.

The researchers warn: “Our findings demonstrate that some non-smoking guest rooms in smoking hotels are as polluted with [third hand smoke] as are some smoking rooms. Moreover, non-smoking guests staying in smoking rooms may be exposed to tobacco smoke pollutants at levels found among non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke.”

The scientists urge hotels to enforce total smoking bans to protect both clients and employees. They insist: “Guests who wish to protect themselves from exposure to tobacco smoke should avoid hotels that permit smoking and instead stay in completely smoke-free hotels.”