U.S. to Ban Smoking in Public Housing

U.S. to Ban Smoking in Public Housing

Businesses have 18 months to implement smoke-free insurance policies

WebMD Information from HealthDay

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30, 2016 (HealthDay Information) -- Smoking can be banned in public housing residences beginning subsequent 12 months, U.S. officers introduced Wednesday.

The federal authorities's "historic" determination to make all public housing properties smoke-free will shield thousands and thousands of kids and adults from harmful secondhand smoke, mentioned Matthew Myers, president of the Marketing campaign for Tobacco-Free Children.

Myers praised the U.S. Division of Housing and City Improvement (HUD) "for taking motion to guard the well being of public housing residents, together with many youngsters, aged and other people with well being circumstances who're significantly prone to the well being results of secondhand smoke."

He mentioned secondhand smoke incorporates greater than 7,000 chemical compounds, together with a whole lot which can be poisonous and not less than 69 that trigger most cancers.

HUD mentioned the brand new rule will shield greater than 2 million public housing residents, together with 760,000 youngsters, and save public housing companies $153 million a 12 months in well being care prices, repairs and preventable fires.

Public housing companies have 18 months to implement smoke-free insurance policies that apply to all dwelling items, indoor widespread areas, administrative places of work and out of doors areas inside 25 ft of housing and administrative workplace buildings, Myers defined.

At present, greater than 228,000 public housing items are smoke-free, and the brand new rule will enhance that quantity to greater than 940,000 items.

"It's disappointing that this new rule doesn't apply to digital cigarettes, though particular person housing authorities are permitted to incorporate e-cigarettes of their insurance policies. Together with e-cigarettes within the new coverage would facilitate enforcement and assist obtain the objective of guaranteeing public housing residents can breathe clear air," Myers mentioned in a information launch.

Secondhand smoke causes tens of hundreds of deaths nationwide annually, and there's no secure stage of publicity, in response to the U.S. Surgeon Normal.

Whereas the share of People uncovered to secondhand smoke has declined by greater than half since 1999, one-fourth of nonsmokers (58 million individuals) are nonetheless uncovered to secondhand smoke, in response to a 2015 report by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

These figures embrace 41 p.c of kids aged three to 11, and 68 p.c of black youngsters in that age group. Secondhand smoke publicity charges are additionally excessive amongst individuals dwelling in poverty and in rental housing, Myers mentioned.