BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke (SHS) is the mixture of more than 6000 chemicals found in smoke exhaled by a smoker and emitted from the smoldering cigarette. Health consequences of SHS exposure are well established, and widespread exposure to SHS among nonsmokers in low-income, minority populations has been well-documented. Little is known, however, about how nonsmokers in multiunit housing experience and evaluate secondhand smoke intrusion into their homes. This study explored multiunit housing resident’s experience of tobacco smoke intrusion.
METHODS: Between February 2019-September 2022, 116 San Diego County adults completed a structured interview administered by a trained research assistant. Interview questions included smoking history, household and apartment complex smoking rules, characteristics of and response to tobacco smoke intrusion, and knowledge and attitudes about exposure. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA.
RESULTS: All 116 participants were current non-smokers who lived in affordable multiunit housing, were on average 58 years old, primarily female (86%), Hispanic/Latinx (75%), and unemployed (29%) or retired (44%). Participants who reported current intrusion of tobacco smoke (n=51) were more educated, more likely to report previous smoking, and better informed about the smoking restrictions in their apartment complex than participants who did not (n=65). They described tobacco smoke intrusion as extremely stressful, of long duration (i.e., >1 year), frequently occurring (i.e., ≥ 1 time per week), and predictable. Almost half reported that intrusion was accompanied by physical symptoms. Nearly all (94%) stated they could identify the source, and 61% had reported the problem to property management. Research assistants confirmed stale tobacco odor in 20% of apartments with intrusion.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest tobacco smoke intrusion is a persistent problem in affordable multiunit housing, frequently accompanied by physical symptoms, and remains unresolved despite reports to property management. Existing policies restricting smoking in multiunit housing are insufficient and fail to protect vulnerable residents.