Secondhand Smoke in Apartment Units

A presentation by the American Lung Association of MN

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.

Surgeon General Richard Carmona

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

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

Secondhand Smoke and Your Heart

Increases the risks of heart disease, heart attacks, and increased heart rate

Increases blood pressure

Secondhand Smoke and Your Lungs

Includes many chemicals and gases that are dangerous for your lungs

Causes lung cancer in adults who don’t smoke

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

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

Smoking and Fires There were 40 smoking-

related fires in multi-family dwellings in Minnesota in 2005Minnesota Fire Marshal, “Fire in Minnesota,”

2005

Smoking also caused 50% of multi-family fire deaths occurring in Minnesota in 2006Minnesota Fire Marshal, “Fire Fatalities,” 2006

Smoke-free Housing Trends In 2002, 66% of

households in US and in MN were smoke free-- US Surgeon General’s 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

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

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 smoker’s

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”

No-Smoking Rules in Apartments

Smoke-free apartments are legal “Smokers” are not a protected class

Steps to a Smoke-free Building Make a plan Hold a meeting Survey tenants Amend new leases

and/or adapt house rules Market building’s smoke-

free status

We can help! We believe everyone deserves clean air—

especially 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

Contact Information

www.alamn.org/smokefreehousing (218) 726-4721