PORTSMOUTH – A new smoke-free housing rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) went into effect on Monday, July 30, protecting the 15,000 families currently living in New Hampshire’s public housing communities from secondhand smoke.
The American Lung Association applauded the new rule, which recognizes the serious health threat posed by secondhand smoke, and its ability to linger in rooms and even travel between homes in multi-unit housing. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, all according to a press release from the ALA.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life, and ensuring homes are free from the risks of secondhand smoke is a critical step for the health of residents,” said Jeff Seyler, Chief Division Officer of the ALA, in the press release. “This is especially true for children and those who are more vulnerable to the impact of second smoke, such as those living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Today we’re making a healthier future for New Hampshire and our nation.”
In November 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a rule requiring all federally-owned public housing to become smoke-free by July 30, 2018. This rule will protect close to two million Americans nationwide from being exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes, including 690,000 children.
The ALA celebrates this long-awaited health protection, following more than a decade of advocacy for the passage of the rule as well as support for the implementation of smoke-free housing policies in local public housing authorities. For many years, the New Hampshire Department of Health and partners, including the ALA, have provided resources for residents, building managers and owners of multi-unit housing to support smoke-free policies. As of July 30, 2018 the rule prohibits the use of lit tobacco products and hookahs inside all indoor areas and 25 feet from all federally funded public housing authority buildings. New Hampshire currently has 18 public housing authorities, with 5,580 units housing 15,634 people.
“Today we celebrate this important step to protect the health of residents of public housing in New Hampshire, and we know we’ll see the health benefits for years to come,” said Lance Boucher, Senior Director of State Advocacy – Eastern Division for the American Lung Association. “We hope that this rule will inspire more of New Hampshire’s multi-unit residential buildings and college campuses to go smoke-free as well.”
Secondhand smoke exposure poses serious health threats to both children and adults. Damaging health effects in children and adults include lung cancer, respiratory infections, worsened asthma symptoms, heart attacks and stroke. For residents of multi-unit housing, such as apartment buildings and condominiums, secondhand smoke can be a major concern even if people don’t smoke in the units, because smoke can migrate from other units and common areas and travel through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, plumbing, and ventilation systems.
For more information on smoke-free housing, visit Lung.org/smokefreehousing.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.
