FAQ

Without exception, every objective study using actual sales data finds that Smoke-free legislation has no adverse impact on restaurant, bar, hotel and tourism receipts. (Studies conducted in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Vermont, North Carolina, and British Columbia.)

Smoking causes many serious and fatal diseases and conditions including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema. It also causes many other cancers, respiratory diseases and strokes, and can affect fertility.

Cigarettes contain over 7,000 toxic chemicals and around 69 of these cause cancers. The three main toxins are nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar:

• Carbon monoxide is also found in car exhaust fumes and produced by faulty gas appliances. It takes the place of oxygen in the blood, causing your lungs to work less efficiently, hence, stops cells all around your body from getting the oxygen they need.
• Tar causes cancer and damages your lungs. It stays inside your lungs, making tubes narrower and reducing your protection against infection.
• Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found naturally in tobacco. It travels quickly to the brain when it is inhaled and can cause a feeling of temporary relaxation and stress relief.

Some other chemicals found in cigarettes are also found in other places:

• Acetone – nail polish remover
• Ammonia - toilet cleaner
• Arsenic - rat poison
• Benzo(a)pyrene - diesel exhaust fumes
• Carbon monoxide - petrol exhaust fumes
• DDT and dieldrin - insecticides
• Formaldehyde - preservative for dead bodies
• Hydrogen cyanide - poison used in gas chambers
• Methanol - rocket fuel
• Titanium - metal used to make aeroplanes

Wherever people smoke, there is second-hand smoke in the air. 80% of it is invisible, which means it is not just unpleasant - it can be a killer.

Second-hand smoke contains:

• Side-stream smoke - smoke from the tip of the cigarette
• Main-stream smoke - smoke that is breathed back out by the smoker

Breathing in second-hand smoke can damage almost every organ in the human body. It increases the risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%.

Second-hand smoke is very dangerous for children because their bodies are still developing. Cot death is twice as likely for babies whose mothers smoke. Children who grow up in a smoking household are much more likely to suffer from asthma, middle ear infections, coughs, colds and wheezes.

People exposed to second-hand smoke face the same dangers as smokers themselves. They breathe in the same poisonous gases and toxic chemicals, so they suffer from the same health risks.

Thirdhand smoke is the residue from tobacco smoke that remains in the environment after smoking has occurred.

In the home, thirdhand smoke can settle on walls, carpets, countertops, tile, upholstery, and other surfaces. It can be ingested, absorbed, or inhaled as the chemicals get released back into the air.

In multi-unit housing, it can be found in units where smoking occurred, as well as units into which smoke drifted from another unit. Thirdhand smoke cannot be completely eliminated with normal household cleaning or by airing out rooms, opening windows, using fans or air conditioners, or confining smoking to only certain indoor areas.

It builds up over time and remains in the home long after the smoking occurred. Property damage caused by thirdhand smoke can increase turnover costs and decrease property value. Restoring an apartment damaged by thirdhand smoke can cost on average 2-3 times more than a non-smoking unit. Moreover, thirdhand smoke can lead to reduced renter appeal.

Smell: You can smell cigarette smoke in the apartment.

See: You can see staining or discoloration of surfaces such as walls, countertops, and tiles.

Smoking actually increases the physical stress on the body and is far more dangerous than any stress that comes from quitting. Nicotine provides an almost immediate “kick” because it causes a discharge of epinephrine from the adrenal cortex. This stimulates the central nervous system and endocrine glands, which causes a sudden release of glucose. Stimulation is then followed by depression and fatigue, leading the user to seek more nicotine.

According to recent research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nicotine addiction caused by smoking produces long-lasting chemical changes in the brain similar to changes that take place when someone uses drugs like heroin or cocaine – more evidence of the addictive, destructive nature of nicotine.

When you smoke, carbon monoxide gets into your bloodstream and reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your baby.

The health risks of smoking when pregnant include:

• More complications during your pregnancy and labour
• Increased risk of miscarriage, bleeding and sickness
• Slower growth of your baby
• Increased risk of premature birth or stillbirth

There are also health risks for your baby, including:

• Lower birthweight and weakness
• Higher chance of cot death
• Damage to airways which could cause breathing problems or asthma

It is a vital interest to everyone that maintaining a safe and healthy environment is important. Curtailing the use of tobacco products and significantly reduced the risk of being exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke do bring about the quality of life that one should possess.

A Smoke-Free policy is a great way to protect your property from damage, fires, and excessive wear and tear. You will save money on turnover costs because apartments will cost less to clean, repair, and repaint. You will also gain a market advantage. As more people become aware of the health hazards of secondhand smoke, Smoke-Free policies are an amenity that most tenants want.