Secondhand Smoke in Apartment Units

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Secondhand Smoke in Apartment Units

• A presentation by the American Lung Association
  of MN

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What is secondhand smoke?

• Smoke from the burning end of the cigarette.
• Smoke breathed out by the smoker.
• When you breathe secondhand smoke, it is like you
  are smoking.

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Surgeon General Richard Carmona
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Surgeon General Richard CarmonaJune 27, 2006

• There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke
• The only way to protect people from the dangers
  of secondhand smoke is to eliminate the smoke
  exposure

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Secondhand Smoke and You

• People of all ages and backgrounds can be
  affected by secondhand smoke
• Vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens,
  are at an increased risk from health problems
  such as heart attacks

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Secondhand Smoke and Your Heart

• Increases the risks of heart disease, heart
  attacks, and increased heart rate
• Increases blood pressure

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Secondhand Smoke and Your Lungs

• Includes many chemicals and gases that are
  dangerous for your lungs
• Causes lung cancer in adults who dont smoke

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Secondhand Smoke and Your Breathing

• Asthma, COPD, emphysema, and other breathing
  problems
• Increases the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia
• Being around smoke makes you more congested and
  cough more

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Secondhand Smoke and Other Health Effects

• Burning eyes and throat
• Ear infections
• Nose bleeds
• Headaches
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Low birth weight and pre-term babies

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Smoking and Fires

• There were 40 smoking-related fires in
  multi-family dwellings in Minnesota in 2005
• Minnesota Fire Marshal, Fire in Minnesota, 2005
• Smoking also caused 50 of multi-family fire
  deaths occurring in Minnesota in 2006
• Minnesota Fire Marshal, Fire Fatalities, 2006

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Smoke-free Housing Trends

• In 2002, 66 of households in US and in MN were
  smoke free-- US Surgeon Generals Report on
  Secondhand Smoke, 2006
• In 2005, 78.2 of homes were smoke free in NE MN
  and NW WI a 40 increase in 5 years-- Bridge
  to Health Survey, 2005

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Secondhand Smokein Apartment Units

• Gases expand to fill a space and cigarette smoke
  contains a number of gases as well as small
  particles
• Secondhand smoke seeps between units through gaps
  in construction and shared ventilation

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What can you do?

• Try quick fixes like
• Talking to the smoking neighbor
• Asking your landlord to improve air filtration
• Sealing off your apartment from the smokers
  apartment
• Moving to another unit that does not have any
  smoking neighbors
• Creating a log of when you are being exposed to
  secondhand smoke to use when you talk with your
  landlord
• Work towards adopting a no-smoking rule

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No-Smoking Rules in Apartments

• Smoke-free apartments are legal
• Smokers are not a protected class

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Steps to a Smoke-free Building

• Make a plan
• Hold a meeting
• Survey tenants
• Amend new leases and/or adapt house rules
• Market buildings smoke-free status

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We can help!

• We believe everyone deserves clean airespecially
  in their homes
• Provide FREE assistance with
• Considering and adopting a no-smoking policy
• Setting up conference calls with other landlords
  who have adopted no-smoking policies
• Presentations to tenants, community groups, and
  others
• Tenant surveys
• Drafting a no-smoking policy
• Implementation and enforcement planning

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Contact Information

• www.alamn.org/smokefreehousing
• [phone]