The following information is an excerpt of an email sent to me from a reader...



In NY state many helpful laws are now being enacted to protect human beings from the dangers of second hand smoke. Tobacco smoke kills more people than any disease or fatal accident.

I hope that in the near future more laws will be passed to protect people from tobacco smoke. Those who live in apartment buildings and are made ill by second hand smoke are in immediate need of this protection.

When second hand smoke floods an apartment from a neighboring apartment, it jeopardizes that persons health on a serious level. Second hand smoke in apartment buildings also damages property, and creates a constant fire hazard within the building. In addition, the smoke gets into the ventilation system of the building and poisons its residents.

People who smoke should be aware that they are poisoning themselves and other people. Poisoning another human being is illegal. When you smoke in a confined area such as an apartment complex, you are in fact exposing yourself and everyone around you to lethal chemicals that can cause serious illness and death.

The common practice of landlords ignoring the problem, or ignorantly not caring should be corrected. Recently laws were passed in some states, regarding when the smoke from one apartment enters another apartment and makes that tenant sick, the smoker can be fined and asked to stop smoking by building management or face eviction.

People can do what they wish in their own home. Some argue that there is a right to smoke in ones own home, that it’s the law. The truth is there is no law that grants the right to smoke in your own home, especially in an apartment complex. In an apartment complex, where the actions of one directly affect the health of many others, smoking should not be used to harm others but it often is.

Children are especially vulnerable to the ill effects of second hand smoke. In some states, exposing children to the deadly chemicals in tobacco smoke is considered child abuse.

Take the time to write to your local lawmakers and encourage them to continue to pass laws to protect you from second hand smoke. Your health as well as the health of your children and their children depends on protection from tobacco smoke.

For more helpful information about second hand smoke, please visit:

tobacco.org
http://www.tobacco.org/


dealing with smoke in your home
http://wc5.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1de02ba3


americans for non smokers rights
http://www.no-smoke.org/getthefacts.php?id=15