What to do about Drifting Cigarette Smoke
by Andrea Reynolds


One problem that has been brought to me recently is drifting second hand smoke in a neighbor's condo causing a health problem for her. Together we've been working through a list of steps to take and so far we haven't been able to change or reduce the problem. Actually several neighbors are having the same experience and are meeting with considerable resistance.

1. Plug up holes around heat and water pipes.
2. Ask smokers to use air purifiers and smoke removal systems in their units.
3. Seal up entrance and balcony doors to stop suction.
4. Offer to plug up holes in smoker's unit at no cost.
5. Ask management to intercede.
6. Ask management to replace wall under sink in bathroom.
7. Ask smokers to not smoke on balcony below open balcony door.
8. Ask public health for advice.
9. Try to rent or sell unit to move out.
10. Purchase air purifiers for own unit.
11. Ask management to ask smokers not to keep their front doors ajar to let smoke escape into common hallways
12. Ask the smoker to stop smoking in the bathroom.
13. Try to schedule the smoking so non-smokers get a reasonable respite at the same time every day.
14. Urge management to consider making the building smoke-free.

Can you add to the list?

Andrea