Expenses of second hand smoke - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Latest Hot Co-op Topic: Secondhand Smoke

Submitted by Dave, Jan 2, 2008 16:51

I am not a doctor or toxicologist, so I cannot comment on the health effects of second hand smoke (although I consider them to be present as smoking itself is proven to be unhealthy), but there is a smell factor that is offensive to non-smokers.
I live in an apartment building for over a year now. The apartment below became vacant and a smoker moved in. Since then the entire hallway and my apartment (over two floors!) now smells like an old ashtray. My clothes stink like cold smoke and no matter which air freshener I try it just comes back.
Based on the lack of laws protecting non-smokers I have no legal means. The only option is to move, but I think that is an unfair burden. Why do I have to pay to move and spend time, money, and effort to change addresses and contact information with all kinds of places and services (DMV, bank, doctors, schools, utilities, phone company, employer, postal service, etc.). I'd move if the smoker picks up the tab and compensates to the time I have to take off from work.
If a cat would pee on the floor and the smell goes through the building the discussion would be quite different. The cat got to go or find a litter box or the tenant has to pack up - and rightfully so. Why should that be any different for smokers? It cannot be that a minority constantly receives the right to bully the majority even in the own dwelling.
I also can't understand the landlords. Ever tried to get the nicotine smear off walls or wallpaper? No chance, after the smoker moves out the plaster board has to come down and be replaced unless one is lucky and Kilz does the trick. I've been involved in several remodeling projects and one was in a previous smoker home. It is unbelievable how stubborn that stuff is. We took the drywall down and replaced it.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Smoke from my neighbors unit is making my family sick. I do not want to infringe on my neighbor's right... [MORE]	Travis	Mar 9, 2008 17:02
As a non-smoker, it is repulsive to smell cigerette smoke. Before the ban, I went to a bar in NJ... [MORE]	Sue	Feb 19, 2008 16:33
1. Purportedly, smoking and the second hand smoking that results from said smoking kills. So does the exhaust from motor... [MORE]	lilyofthevalley	Feb 18, 2008 02:24
i wonder if any surveys have been done to see how high the demand for this would be. shouldn't these... [MORE]	mjg	Feb 14, 2008 12:37
I am not a doctor or toxicologist, so I cannot comment on the health effects of second hand smoke (although...	Dave	Jan 2, 2008 16:51
I understand all the complaints about SHS. But I have to wonder what is the recourse against horrible air pollution... [MORE]	BklynGal305	Feb 14, 2008 18:16
BblynGal305 As you point out, we are weighing interests. A family's interest in eating rotten cabbage vs. your sister's interest in... [MORE]	Travis	Mar 9, 2008 17:38
Benjamin's problem is that he paid too much for a cheaply-constructed condo, like so many other New Yorkers over the... [MORE]	Mike	Dec 14, 2007 10:47
Mike is wrong here. I lived in a 3 family house with a smoker in the basement. The stench permeated... [MORE]	L Yeostros	Jan 8, 2008 10:03
That's why there has been a carefully cultivated and pervasive atmousphere of "chicken little" when it comes to second hand... [MORE]	MsProgressive	Dec 11, 2007 12:51
Superb post - Accurate and to the point, I agree fatties are next, intolerance is a hateful thing. I have... [MORE]	Vinnysmad	Dec 12, 2007 09:31
Whether you choose to believe 2nd hand smoke is dangerous (a myth like evolution and global warming, perhaps?) IT STILL... [MORE]	culprit	Dec 13, 2007 21:06
Culprit - I have a neighbor who uses plug-in air fresheners and burns potpourri candles, which 'scents' permeate the hallways... [MORE]	MsProgressive	Dec 14, 2007 09:29
Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, over 60 of which cause cancer. Cigarette smoke does not respect boundaries and invades... [MORE]	Terra L. House	Dec 10, 2007 12:10
Oh Terra here we go again- the usual stuff being spouted by antismokers. Was the ex-Surgeon General's Reports ever based... [MORE]	Pablo	Dec 10, 2007 19:16
I am very pleased that the press is finally starting to focus on the health hazard of secondhand smoke that... [MORE]	bythebay	Dec 12, 2007 01:47
My husband and I were forced to move from a condo because I have asthma and the people below us... [MORE]	Jacque Petterson	Dec 9, 2007 21:50
I used to have sympathy for all the smokers that can no longer smoke just about anywhere they go..of course... [MORE]	Mark	Jan 6, 2008 00:43
I live in a rent stabalized building in Brooklyn. A new neighbor moved in next to me and the stench... [MORE]	M	Feb 15, 2008 16:41
It sounds like the trial lawyers are still at it, planting articles such as this. Mr. Zitomer should move if... [MORE]	Rus Mueller	Dec 6, 2007 20:39
Dear EDITORS, It was good no fire (was) present, as people start warming up their fireplaces to welcome SANTA. Albany's recent law... [MORE]	Shih-Ming Laura Yeh	Dec 6, 2007 18:29
Thanks for this very interesting and timely article. I have a related concern. My apartment windows are directly in line... [MORE]	Marcia Lawther	Dec 6, 2007 16:17
I believe secondhand smoke is an act of disrespect. The mentally of someone smoking around nonsmokers is simply of an... [MORE]	Mystique Till	Dec 6, 2007 13:43
Perhaps Mystique do your homework- the largest study on Second Hand Smoke presented in 2003 by Enstrom and Kabat showed... [MORE]	Pablo	Dec 10, 2007 19:08
It's truly remarkable to see some posts denying the harmful affects of secondhand smoke. The head in the sand approach... [MORE]	dan	Dec 11, 2007 14:22
I'm not a smoker that blows smoke in anyones face, but I resent being treated like a 2nd class citizen... [MORE]	RS Bissell	Dec 12, 2007 10:35
Mr Bissell My bad habits don't expose complete strangers to carcinogens. And as for you paying taxes on the death sticks,... [MORE]	dan	Dec 13, 2007 13:36
Consider this. It is a smokers right to choose to smoke. It is a non smokers right to choose... [MORE]	Tim Breneman	Jan 7, 2008 13:45

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