Calaveras Public
Health Services and Tuolumne County Public Health Department released the
results of a new survey showing tenants in multi-unit housing support getting
more protections from secondhand smoke where they live. This survey was conducted by the American
Lung Association in California. Tenants
were surveyed by the American Lung Association in California for CA4Health, a
project of the Public Health Institute funded by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. The poll included tenants in twelve CA4Health counties:
Calaveras, Humboldt, Imperial, Madera, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Shasta,
Siskiyou, Solano, Tulare, and Tuolumne.
This survey found
that the majority of tenants surveyed favor rules that would limit
exposure to
secondhand smoke where they live. Sixty-four
percent of Calaveras County tenants and 59% of Tuolumne County residents favored
prohibiting smoking in outdoor common areas of complexes. Fifty-six percent of
Calaveras County residents and 63% of Tuolumne County residents favored
prohibiting smoking inside apartment units. California state law already prohibits
smoking in the indoor common areas of multi-unit housing such as laundry rooms
and community rooms. Many California
counties and cities have enacted local ordinances that further restrict
secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing.
Calaveras County does not have any local ordinances that restrict
multi-unit housing secondhand smoke exposure outside of this state law.
Despite these
findings, only 39% of Calaveras tenants and 52% of Tuolumne tenants surveyed
report currently living in a building with any rules limiting smoking.
Breathing secondhand smoke in multi-unit buildings is a health problem because
smoke drifts from neighboring units, patios, balconies and outdoor common areas
through open windows, plumbing, doors and shared ventilation systems. Survey
results indicate almost 29% of Calaveras tenants and 33% of Tuolumne tenants
have experienced secondhand smoke drifting into their unit in the past year.
“Drifting secondhand
smoke is a real health hazard and this survey shows that residents across our
county are highly aware of this fact,” said Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County
Health Officer. “So looking at these results, it is not surprising that so many
tenants want to be protected from secondhand smoke exposure in the apartments where
they live,” added Dr. Kelaita.
According to the U.S.
Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In 2006, the California Air Resources Board classified
secondhand smoke as a "Toxic Air Contaminant" in the same category as
asbestos, cyanide and arsenic, all of which can lead to serious illness and
death. “Making smoke-free multi-unit housing available to the public is common
sense public health and can result in financial benefits to landlords and
owners through reduced maintenance and turnover costs,” stated Dr. Todd Stolp,
Tuolumne County Health Officer. “These survey findings are similar to
the findings from a local survey conducted by Tuolumne Public Health Department
in 2012.”
“People should feel
safe in their own homes. Yet it is alarming that many residents of Calaveras
and Tuolumne counties are experiencing drifting secondhand smoke where they
live,” said Kimberly Amazeen, Vice President, Programs & Advocacy, American
Lung Association in California. “To
ensure the health of these tenants, more must be done to give them the
protections they need from secondhand smoke,” continued Ms. Amazeen.
Calaveras Public
Health Services is working with residents who want to live in smoke-free
environments as well as apartment owners and managers. The health concerns
resulting from exposure to secondhand smoke exposure is a critical issue for
tenants and managers but it
is also a community issue when a segment of the population is living in
unhealthy home environments. Moving to
another location is not an option for many of the vulnerable groups who live in
multi-unit housing. Moving is also not a
guarantee of smoke-free living.
Share Walls, Not Smoke! It’s a Community Issue, is a campaign for
smoke-free housing in Calaveras County.
For more information and the American Lung Association survey results,
visit www.calaveraspublichealth.com (Programs &
Services/CA4Health) or call 209.754.6460.
The Tuolumne County surveys and tobacco prevention information are
available at www.co.tuolumne.ca.us or call 209.533.7401
or 1.800.585.6606 [Toll Free]. Find
out how you can get involved in smoke-free housing.
