Our site is dedicated to educating apartment owners, property managers, condominium associations and tenants about the dangers of drifting secondhand smoke. Our site provides information and resources on how to adopt and implement smoke free housing policies and ensure a smooth transition to a smoke free building.
Secondhand smoke can be more than a nuisance. It is classified as a Class A Carcinogen and is a toxic air contaminant that can cause illnesses in otherwise healthy people. It doesn't take a lot of people smoking indoors to generate a considerable amount of tobacco smoke in enclosed areas. For some individuals, even small doses and short amounts of exposure can be debilitating. Even the most sophisticated ventilation systems cannot remove the cancer causing agents in tobacco smoke.
It is nearly impossible to completely eliminate the seepage of secondhand smoke into units that are connected. It can seep through light fixtures, ceiling crawl spaces, ventilation systems, balconies and under doorways. It is estimated that 60% of the air in an apartment comes from other units.
Leftover smoke, known as thirdhand smoke, clings to walls and furniture is a smelly nuisance, but now research suggests that it could pose a far more serious threat, especially to young children who put toys and other smoke-affected items into their mouths. Scientists reported today that one compound from this "third-hand smoke," which forms when second-hand smoke reacts with indoor air, damages DNA and sticks to it in a way that could potentially cause cancer. Read more.
With so many West Virginians living in rental housing, landlords and property owners can significantly impact public health in a positive way by providing smoke-free housing and, in turn, reap the cost-saving benefits of smoke-free housing.
A no-smoking policy does not exclude smokers; it protects the health of all residents from harmful secondhand smoke. Smoke-free policies are not discriminatory. Owners and operators of multi-unit dwellings, public housing and condominiums can adopt smoke-free policies both for indoor and outdoor areas.