Have you been breathing in second-hand smoke from neighbors? It seems particularly important today considering the dangers of various other respiratory illnesses.
Here are some suggestions:
The following written content is from the EPA
You can get advice from a legal center since smokers may not have a right to smoke in apartments (condominiums are different) and landlords in many cases do have the power to ban smoking. You might also get advice from your local health department or other organizations in your state since there may be state or county building codes that relate to sanitary and health conditions or smoke-free ordinances that affect where you live.
The Smoke-free Environments Law Project provides information on secondhand smoke in apartments and condominiums at www.tcsg.org/sfelp/apt_condofact.htm In addition, EPA keeps a list of contacts for each state on its site at www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/epa-regional-office-and-state-indoor-air-quality-information. Your local chapter of the American Lung Association (call 1-800-LUNG-USA or go to their website at www.lungusa.org ) ma also be able to provide you with additional information on smoking codes and/or ordinances in your area.
How Does Secondhand Smoke Enter An Apartment?
Secondhand smoke can come into your apartment in multiple ways. Secondhand smoke does not respect boundaries, seeping through light fixtures, wall electric outlets, ceiling crawl spaces, and doorways into all areas of a building with smokers. Secondhand smoke cannot be controlled by ventilation, air cleaning, or the separation of smokers from nonsmokers. The U.S. Surgeon General has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that eliminating smoking in indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure.
Read more about secondhand smoke at https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/secondhand-smoke-and-smoke-free-homes.
The following written content from Cheh Khee
I am a senior citizen who would like to thank MP Louis Ng for once again bringing up the subject of legislating a ban on smoking at windows and balconies of Housing Board flats and residential apartments.
There are smokers who are decent and who would apologise and refrain from smoking at their windows and balconies when approached, and there are also those who refuse to listen and continue to blow smoke into my home.
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor mentioned that in the first four months of last year, only 320 smoking complaints involved smoking in homes.
But this number probably does not include the vast number of people who suffer in silence.
I believe there are many more unreported cases, as many people, like me, realise that it is useless to make a report.
My condominium manager told me that even after a National Environment Agency officer spoke to a smoker, he continued to smoke at his window and balcony.
Dr Khor seems to suggest that difficulty in enforcing the law is reason enough not to enact such a law.
I beg to differ. Do we have to install cameras in cars to ensure that people are wearing their seat belts? Just a piece of legislature will get people to wear them.
Regardless of the difficulty of enforcement, such legislation is powerful enough to save lives.
Most smokers are considerate and civic-minded; they listen and care. However, only the law can tackle the minority of smokers who are selfish and inconsiderate.
These smokers do not smoke inside their premises but at windows and balconies as they want to protect their own children and families but disregard the health of their neighbours.
Dr Khor mentioned that the Government has been and will continue to expand smoke-free places. Again, this does not solve the problem. I can avoid going to places where people smoke but I have nowhere to go when they are smoking right outside my window at home. Read more from ST
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