How to Eliminate Tobacco Smoke From Indoor Air

Even before the Surgeon General’s 1964 report, “Smoking and Health,” society has been aware of the terrible effects of tobacco smoke on health. Today, you’d have to be living under a rock or purposely obtuse to not know that tobacco smoke is a very dangerous pollutant. Whether you’re doing the smoking yourself or just enduring exposure to side-stream smoke or second hand smoke, tobacco smoke contributes to lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and other illnesses. The chemical cocktail of lethal compounds in tobacco smoke cause the oxygen levels in your blood stream to drastically lower, prohibiting normal function of your body.

Side-stream Smoke vs. Second-hand Smoke

While second-hand smoke is released from the exhale of the person smoking, side-stream smoke is released directly from the burning paper and tobacco. Side-stream smoke is more toxic than second hand smoke! The combination of second-hand and side-stream smoke make the “no smoking zone” a pipe dream. The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act was a non-comprehensive smoke-free law that permitted limited smoking in casinos as long as a “no smoking” area was implemented. Well, a follow-up study sampled the air quality in 15 casino gaming areas, both smoking and non-smoking areas. Results showed that the policy failed to preserve indoor air quality in the no-smoking, children-friendly areas. Analysts concluded that adopting a more comprehensive, 100% smoke-free policy was the only effective remedy. ^[1]

Tobacco smoke smells bad and is clingy. Gone with the wind? Not quite. When you smoke, it infiltrates your air, clothing, hair and skin with contaminated chemicals and it seems to hang around forever. A study in Singapore found that at least 4-6 hours of purging time was necessary to only minimize environmental tobacco smoke exposure to non-smokers when entering a smoking room. ^[2] That’s a hard bar to meet when the concentration of cigarette smoke reaches epic proportions and never stops, like in a casino.

Air Quality Considerations

Cigarette facts:

• A common cigarette contains 4,000+ chemicals including ammonia, butane, arsenic, lead, and benzene.


• Smoking a pack of smokes a day for a year can put a quart of tar in your lungs.


• Second-hand and side-stream smoke includes 35+ carcinogenic chemicals.

The Surgeon General’s report in 2006 stated:

• Second-hand and side-stream tobacco smoke have a negative health effect for everyone exposed.


• Second-hand or side-stream smoke exposure increases your likelihood of heart disease and lung cancer.


• Second-hand and side-stream smoke have been related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and advanced infections and asthma in babies and children.


• Over half of all reported disease are caused or worsened by toxic indoor air, including tobacco smoke.


• Indoor air may be 10 times more toxic than outdoor.

Legislation isn’t the Full Answer

We must be aware that policies don’t always extend to pragmatic realities. The University of California San Francisco School of Nursing found that, despite tobacco-control policies in California, people continue to be exposed to second-hand smoke. They attributed a lack of full compliance to smoke-free work place laws as part of the problem as well as exposure in the home. ^[3]

The anti-smoking sentiment has also not yet spread across the world. The Department of Health Behavior at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY notes that although smoke-free policies have been an important and high-profile intervention in America, only 11% of the world’s population live in countries with smoke-free laws. ^[4]

An evaluation of Spain’s anti-smoking legislation found that though eliminating smoking from indoor areas is highly effective, second-hand smoke still has a tendency to drift indoors when smoking happens outside entrances. This is often why smoking bans in the United States include an immediate area around building entrances. Considering outdoor restrictions to ensure complete protection against SHS may be appropriate. ^[5]

How To Reduce Your Exposure

Serbia’s Public Health Institute found tobacco smoke to have an effect on children that can only be described as an urgent problem with life lasting negative health effects- which are preventable! ^[6] How? The U.S. Clean Air Council suggests the following tips to help eliminate tobacco pollution from your home and environment:

• Quit smoking, now.


• Only visit smoke-free establishments, let them know you support them.


• Open windows and encourage ventilation.


• Remove smoke-infused wallpaper.


• Remove tobacco-infused carpet.


• Replace all heating and air filters regularly.


• Get a high-quality, indoor air purification system.

If you smoke, stop. Listen, there are plenty of ways to put a band-aid on the ugly sore of smoking to minimally counteract it, but quitting is the only sure way to promote a healthy future for you and your family. It’s a tough process but can be done. Set a goal and achieve it, then reward yourself. Protect the health of your family and yourself by implementing a “no-tobacco” policy in your own home. Encourage others to do the same.

References (6)

1. Cochran C, Henriques D, York N, Lee K. Risk of exposure to second hand smoke for adolescents in Las Vegas casinos: an evaluation of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act. J Health Hum Serv Adm. 2012 Fall;35(2):231-52.


2. Wan MP, Wu CL, Chan TT, Chao CY, Yeung LL. Removal and leakage of environmental tobacco smoke from a model smoking room. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2010 Oct;7(10):573-84. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2010.504432.


3. Max W, Sung HY, Shi Y. Exposure to secondhand smoke at home and at work in California. Public Health Rep. 2012 Jan-Feb;127(1):81-8.


4. López MJ, Fernández E, Pérez-Rios M, Martínez-Sánchez JM, Schiaffino A, Galán I, Moncada A, Fu M, Montes A, Saltó E, Nebot M. Impact of the 2011 spanish smoking ban in hospitality venues: indoor secondhand smoke exposure and influence of outdoor smoking. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 May;15(5):992-6. doi: 10.1093/ntr/nts218. Epub 2012 Oct 25.


5. Hyland A, Barnoya J, Corral JE. Smoke-free air policies: past, present and future. Tob Control. 2012 Mar;21(2):154-61. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050389. Review.


6. Stosić L, Milutinović S, Lazarević K, Blagojević L, Tadić L. Household environmental tobacco smoke and respiratory diseases among children in Nis (Serbia). Cent Eur J Public Health. 2012 Mar;20(1):29-32.

What Is Sick Building Syndrome?

Indoor air pollution has become a serious problem. Discussions about indoor air quality emerged in the 1970s as a result of the energy crisis leading to home construction that was more efficient by way of being sealed up tight… and subsequently lacking ventilation. It’s common knowledge that the lack of ventilation is a detriment to air quality in indoor environments. How? Stagnant air inundates the occupants with a concentration of pollution that negatively impacts the respiratory system. Is it any surprise poor indoor air quality is associated with cough, allergies, and a collective problem called sick building syndrome?

What is Sick Building Syndrome?

Sick building syndrome describes what happens when a combination of indoor air toxins and lack of ventilation meet the human respiratory system. Because the list of pollutants is so many, and their effects so varied, sick building syndrome has a multitude of symptoms and can rear its head in many ways. In general, however, the most prevalent symptoms include eye irritation and nonspecific upper respiratory symptom. ^[1] Pollutants such as dust, mold, harmful organisms, bacteria, VOCs, toxic gases, harmful compounds, and chemical vapors can all produce adverse effects. The combination of one or more of these pollutants can multiply the problem and any compound that can pollute the air can be a factor of sick building syndrome, they need not be inorganic “factory” chemicals. Fungi are “natural” but also an especially major biological pollutant in the indoor environment. As long as moisture and oxygen are available, mold is able to grow. This leads to it being found on nearly any surface in a building, including carpets, ceiling tiles, insulations, any surfaces, wallpapers, or air conditioning systems. Indoor environments that provide exposure to fungus can cause health problems such as allergy, asthma, pneumonia, airway irritation, and many other different toxic effects. ^[2]

What Factors Contribute to Sick Building Syndrome?

When air pollutants emanate from building materials and furnishings, they are trapped by the lack of ventilation and are left lingering for you to breath in. Notable pollutants include VOCs and chemicals from simple and common household cleaners or even furniture. A Japanese study evaluated VOCs emitted from nine pieces of home furniture as potential sources of indoor air pollution. Researchers detected formaldehyde and results revealed that VOC emissions from furniture may significantly impact indoor air quality. ^[3]Formaldehyde? On a couch?

Indoor Pollution Sources

1. Synthetic Insulation


2. Poor Air Circulation


3. Lack of Fresh Air


4. Smoke


5. Paint Fumes


6. Dustmites


7. Synthetic Carpet Outgassing


8. Pet Dander


9. Toxic Household Cleaners


10. Fabric Outgassing


11. Natural Gas/CO2


12. Construction Materials


13. Bacteria From Toilet Bowl


14. Mold & Mildew


15. Lead or Toxic Paint


16. Carbon Monoxide


17. Oil & Gas Fumes

How Common is Sick Building Syndrome?

Although it’s mainly limited to developed nations, sick building syndrome has become a global problem and received global attention. An examination of 37 buildings throughout California found that all of the buildings had very ineffective filtering systems. Furthermore, many buildings failed to meet ventilation standards. Is it for lack of codes or lack of enforcement? Well, researchers called for regulators to implement more complete building inspections. ^[4]

Effects on the Workplace

Part of the reason for sick building syndrome receiving so much attention is because it can have horrible and disastrous consequences for workplace productivity. It makes sense, symptoms of SBS are often direct causes for increased absenteeism and can also progress to situations of a class-action magnitude. Recently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health was asked to evaluate a water-damaged office building where 1300 employees worked and reported respiratory problems, specifically airway irritation. Of course, symptoms were thought to be building related. ^[5] Other research has also found that dampness and mold in workplace buildings leads to increased incidence of SBS and reports of bronchial redness. ^[6]

The Office of Workforce and Career Development at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta examined data collected from employees who were working in a water-damaged building during ongoing repairs and observed no improvement in their respiratory health. They concluded that when a work environment is polluted, it’s not enough to fix the problem as you go along. Relocating everyone to better conditions, while repairs are made, is necessary to create a situation where respiratory health may improve. ^[7]

Some might expect hospitals to be exempt from indoor air quality problems, right? Well, surprisingly, a survey by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health found that hospital staff experience indoor air-related symptoms more even often than office workers! Because of the unique environmental needs of hospitals, they recommended the development of a model for resolving indoor air problems. ^[8] I agree, the effects of inhaling air contamination are absolutely indisputable, especially those with compromised immune systems. Every hospital should have a task force specifically created to address air quality problems.

How to Confront Sick Building Syndrome

Sick building syndrome is a compound problem. When a building lacks ventilation, harmful air pollutants build up to horrible levels and lead to respiratory (and other) problems. Alleviating the problem has to be, at minimum, a one-two attack. First, ventilation must be increased! Open the window, turn on a fan, consider an air exchange system! Second, reduce the sources of air pollution! As some pollutants are natural byproducts of nature (skin dander), complete removal is difficult… but you can make a world of difference by switching to organic cleaning products, only purchasing organic home furnishings and using non-toxic building materials. Using an efficient air purification system may also help purify your air and remove toxic invaders. Natural versions of Lysol may also be underway. Cedar leaf oil, from the Western red cedar, was evaluated in a Canadian Study as a safe cleansing agent for applications in buildings. Specifically, the alleviation of sick building syndrome. ^[9] Your lungs are constantly working and if you’re like most people, you spend a lot of time in your home and workplace – be proactive in making sure the air you breath is clean, healthy, and satisfying.

References (9)

1. Tsai DH, Lin JS, Chan CC. Office workers’ sick building syndrome and indoor carbon dioxide concentrations. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2012;9(5):345-51. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2012.675291


2. hinova D, Pieckova E. Moldy buildings, health of their occupants and fungal prevention. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2012;113(5):314-8. Review.


3. Tanaka-Kagawa T, Furuta M, Shibatsuji M, Jinno H, Nishimura T. [Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from large furniture]. Kokuritsu Iyakuhin Shokuhin Eisei Kenkyusho Hokoku. 2011;(129):76-85. Japanese.


4. Bennett DH, Fisk W, Apte MG, Wu X, Trout A, Faulkner D, Sullivan D. Ventilation, temperature, and HVAC characteristics in small and medium commercial buildings in California. Indoor Air. 2012 Aug;22(4):309-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2012.00767.x. Epub 2012 Feb 18.


5. Akpinar-Elci M, Siegel PD, Cox-Ganser JM, Stemple KJ, White SK, Hilsbos K, Weissman DN. Respiratory inflammatory responses among occupants of a water-damaged office building. Indoor Air. 2008 Apr;18(2):125-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00514.x.


6. Zhang X, Sahlberg B, Wieslander G, Janson C, Gislason T, Norback D. Dampness and moulds in workplace buildings: associations with incidence and remission of sick building syndrome (SBS) and biomarkers of inflammation in a 10 year follow-up study. Sci Total Environ. 2012 Jul 15;430:75-81. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.04.040. Epub 2012


7. ssifova YY, Cox-Ganser JM, Park JH, White SK, Kreiss K. Lack of respiratory improvement following remediation of a water-damaged office building. Am J Ind Med. 2011 Apr;54(4):269-77. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20910. Epub 2010 Oct 28.


8. Hellgren UM, Reijula K. Indoor air problems in hospitals: a challenge for occupational health. AAOHN J. 2011 Mar;59(3):111-7. doi: 10.3928/08910162-20110223-01


9. dson J, Kuo M, Vimalanathan S. The antimicrobial properties of cedar leaf (Thuja plicata) oil; a safe and efficient decontamination agent for buildings. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011 Dec;8(12):4477-87. doi: 10.3390/ijerph8124477. Epub 2011 Nov 30.