EPA suggests that you:
- Read your lease or condominium agreement carefully to determine if there is a policy that may address secondhand smoke/aerosols in your building. You may want to consider consulting a legal professional or center to determine your rights and/or the landlord’s ability to prohibit smoking/vaping in your building.
- Get advice from your local health department or other organizations in your state as there may be state or county building codes that relate to sanitation and health or smoke-free ordinances that affect where you live.
- Visit American Lung Association website that provides information about passive tobacco smoke in apartments and condominiums.
- Contact your local chapter of the American Lung Association (call 1-800-LUNG-USA or go to their website at www.lung.org ); they may be able to provide you with additional information about codes and/or ordinances in your area.
How does second-hand tobacco smoke get into an apartment?
Second-hand tobacco smoke can enter your apartment in several ways. Second hand tobacco smoke does not respect boundaries, seeping through light fixtures, wall outlets, attic crawl spaces and doorways into all areas of a building with smokers. Second-hand tobacco smoke cannot be completely controlled by ventilation, air purification or separation of smokers from non-smokers.
