As part of a healthy community, Summit County Health Department’s goal is to reduce secondhand smoke exposure for all residents of Summit County. We hope to accomplish this by reducing exposure in the places residents live by increasing the number of apartments and condos that are smoke-free inside the units and in the outdoor common areas.

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Secondhand smoke (SHS) is the third leading cause of preventable disease in the United States. SHS contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including arsenic, cyanide and acetone, leading to the death of more than 53,000 people every year. SHS exposure increases health risks in children such as coughing, lung infections and asthma. Smokers pose a health threat to residents of apartments and condominium complexes. The thought of cancer-causing chemicals circulating throughout apartments and condominiums is quite unsettling. SHS from one unit can seep through cracks, or travel by a shared ventilation system and enter into the living the space of another. According to the 2006 Surgeon General’s Report, there is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS.

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Smoke-free living environments provide health benefits and they provide residents with cleaner, better-maintained units and a reduced fire risk. The majority of renters prefer non-smoking dwellings and common areas. It is important to note that in this community there is a large market for smoke-free units since 90% of residents do not smoke.

In addition to keeping residents happy, going smoke-free can save apartment owners and managers money. A no-smoking policy can cut down on maintenance and cleaning costs outside of units and around the property (particularly if owners extend the ban to balconies, patios, and common areas). A smoke-free environment reduces the risk of fires and eliminates nicotine smells and stains which can be impossible to remove. Smoke infiltrates units through vents, plumbing fixtures, and minute cracks in ceilings walls and floors.

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Under Utah State law, multiple unit housing managers and owners have the right to prohibit smoking and make common areas and units smoke-free. Many people don’t realize that people who smoke are not protected by state and federal anti-discrimination laws. On the other hand, the right of nonsmokers to be free from exposure to SHS is protected by both legislation and judicial law. Under the American with Disabilities Act non-smokers with serious breathing disabilities have legal protection.

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Lyndsi Marshall
Health Educator
Phone: 435-615-3917
lmarshall @utah.gov

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