What are the Smoking policies outside of apartment buildings?

Answer 1

I am all for it nation wide...

Research data:

The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm. The report says the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.

"The report is a crucial warning sign to nonsmokers and smokers alike," HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt said. "Smoking can sicken and kill, and even people who do not smoke can be harmed by smoke from those who do."

Only smoke-free environments effectively protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure in indoor spaces.

My information is from: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), is the lead federal agency for comprehensive tobacco prevention and control. OSH is a division within the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, which is located within CDC's Coordinating Center for Health Promotion. Just one of their goals is to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

New data that are available in the STATE System:

* Legislative data on Advertising, Excise Tax, Licensure, Preemption, Smokefree Indoor Air and Youth Access Legislation from Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), 2008 (1st quarter data).

<http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/statesystem/help/help_updates.htm#Aug2008>

Government Office on Smoking and Health website:

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/osh/

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/sgr_2006/

The Toll of Tobacco

Sources

Smoking and smokeless rates, deaths, and other state tobacco-related information

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC, CDC, Sustaining State Programs for Tobacco Control, Data Highlights, 2006 (and underlying CDC data/estimates); Adult smoking from CDC 2007 BRFSS; youth smoking from state YRBS, YTS, or other state-specific surveys; California EPA, Proposed Identification of Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Toxic Air Contaminant, June 24, 2005. See also, CDC, "Factsheet: Secondhand Smoke," September 2006.

***

Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined -- and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes -- such as fires caused by smoking (more than 1,000 deaths/year nationwide) and smokeless tobacco use. No good estimates are currently available, however, for the number of California citizens who die from these other tobacco-related causes, or for the much larger numbers who suffer from tobacco-related health problems each year without actually dying.

Smoking-Caused Monetary Costs in California

Annual health care costs in California directly caused by smoking $9.1 billion

- Portion covered by the state Medicaid program $2.9 billion

Residents' state & federal tax burden from smoking-caused government expenditures $630 per household

Smoking-caused productivity losses in California $8.58 billion

Amounts do not include health costs caused by exposure to secondhand smoke, smoking-caused fires, spit tobacco use, or cigar and pipe smoking. Other non-health costs from tobacco use include residential and commercial property losses from smoking-caused fires (more than $500 million per year nationwide); extra cleaning and maintenance costs made necessary by tobacco smoke and litter (about $4+ billion nationwide for commercial establishments alone); and additional productivity losses from smoking-caused work absences, smoking breaks, and on-the-job performance declines and early termination of employment caused by smoking-caused disability or illness (dollar amount listed above is just from productive work lives shortened by smoking-caused death).

Resource from: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/tollprint.php?StateID=CA

Answer 2

As an owner, of course you have the right to ban smoking with the unit that you own.

Banning smoking throughout the community may require an uber-percentage vote of the membership, given a resolution drawn for the board by an association-savvy attorney. There are communities where this amendment has been passed successfully.

Answer 3

Smoking causes two kinds of problems in residential buildings. The smoke can be a health hazard not just for the people who smoke, but also for other people who are exposed to it as second-hand smoke, and the cigarettes are also a fire hazard. People who are careless with their cigarettes do cause many residential fires.

Answer 4

How far should a person stand away from an apartment building if he or she decides to smoke?

Answer 5

Yes, the condominium can be declared as a smoke free facility. If so then you are prohibited from smoking in your unit.

Answer 6

This is my first month in a heavy smoking apartment. The smoke is coming from an apartment downstairs. How do I get rid of the smoke or do I move? My Lease said No Smoking.