The Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT) says landlords should ban smoking in their buildings in order to protect tenants.
“Each day, ACT receives calls from concerned tenants in residential apartment buildings whose peaceful enjoyment of their living space is interfered with by drifting tobacco smoke generated by smokers in other apartments in their building. People are clamouring for someone to do something so that their health and safety is not compromised by drifting smoke,” reads a news release from the organization.
ACT president Kevin Coady says the second-hand smoke is not just a nuisance.
“It is a major health issue, especially for senior tenants who may already have respiratory or other health issues. We have spoken to some tenants who are just recovering from hospitalizations or surgeries and they have to deal daily with smoke coming into their apartments from other tenants in the building,” he said.
ACT says it’s near impossible to stop smoke from drifting through an apartment building, and says the only solution is to ban smoking in them completely.
“Today, in an effort to protect the health of others in their homes, workplaces and indoor public places, most people are going outside to smoke,” the release reads. “The same needs to happen in apartment buildings. People need and have a right to smoke free air.”
