Tobacco and Air Quality

It’s no secret tobacco products affect the air quality around us. Secondhand smoke is released when tobacco is burned from cigarettes, cigars and pipes—and the exposure is harmful when it occurs indoors, particularly in homes and cars*.

While it’s not always possible to remove smoke exposure from homes with a tobacco smoker, you can help protect the air quality in your home with some simple measures.

Reduce air impurities

Install a high-efficiency electrostatic air filter (hello, Filtrete™ Healthy Living Air Filters!) to help attract and capture tobacco smoke particles, as well as various allergens. Make sure to replace your filter at least every three months—even more if indoor smoke pollution is high.

Boost ventilation

Improve air circulation where possible with open windows, fans and new filters. These steps can make the situation more comfortable, however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that opening a window or increasing ventilation in a home doesn’t protect from secondhand smoke.***

Keep in mind: Smoke is difficult to contain, and it can move between rooms of a house and even between the walls, air vents and doorways of apartment units. Consider using a Room Air Purifier with True HEPA filtration to better clean the air.

Minimize secondhand smoke pollution

According to the EPA, prohibiting smoking indoors is the only way to eliminate secondhand smoke from an indoor environment.*** Ventilation and filtration techniques can reduce, but not eliminate, secondhand smoke.

In this situation, a smoke-free living environment is the best way to improve indoor air quality. Similar to workplaces, restaurants, bars and multi-family dwellings, a designated outdoor space for smoking could be a step in the right direction.

Sources:

* https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/secondhand_smoke/index.htm

**https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm

***https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/secondhand-smoke-and-smoke-free-homes