Do electronic cigarettes create thirdhand chemical residue? Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center When someone vapes around others they expose them to 'second hand aerosol'. But what happens to that aerosol then? Does it disappear or is it like cigarette smoke and stays around, sticking to Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke Smoking and Tobacco Use CDC When someone vapes around others they expose them to 'second hand aerosol'. But what happens to that aerosol then? Does it disappear or is it like cigarette smoke and stays around, sticking to