SINGAPORE: A resident recently shared a post on an online complaint forum over a neighbour’s second-hand smoke. Given that Singapore is a densely populated area, such instances may not be hard to come by. What are some of the effects of second-hand smoke, and should Singaporeans pay better attention to such effects?
“I need advice,” wrote a resident who wished to remain anonymous in the Complaint Singapore Facebook group. “A neighbour who is in the corner house always come out to smoke at the stairway beside my house. The cigarette smoke gets into our flat. I am asthmatic and also have an aged pet. Are they allowed to smoke in a common corridor, especially near a neighbour’s house? Is this allowed legally?”
While some online users responded by advising the concerned resident to keep the windows closed instead, others encouraged the writer to simply talk to the smoking neighbour and explain the situation. Some suggested taking a video and reporting the incident to the National Environment Agency (NEA).
According to a study published in BMC Public Health, second-hand smoke, which is a “serious health hazard”, poses a threat not only to people’s physical well-being but also to their psychosocial state.
“Feelings of anxiety and stress are generally tied to feeling discomfort in one’s personal space, a perceived lack of control over the situation, resentment towards smokers, and concerns over the health effects,” the study read. The research was produced by Grace Ping Ping Tan, Odelia Teo, and Yvette van der Eijk. “Secondhand smoke exposure from neighbours is considered a widespread issue, exacerbated by structural factors such as building layout and the COVID-19 pandemic,” they wrote. “Resolving the issue amicably is considered challenging due to the absence of regulations and a reluctance to stir up conflict with neighbours. While smokers took measures to reduce secondhand smoke, these were described as ineffective by other participants. Smokers appeared to have contrasting views from other participants on what it means to smoke in a socially responsible manner.”
The research argued that the level of impact second-hand smoke has brings about the need for “stronger interventions, especially in densely populated urban settings where it is more difficult to avoid.”
Second-hand smoke, also referred to as SHS, is a combination of more than 7,000 chemicals that are hazardous to health. According to the study, second-hand smoke kills 1.2 million non-smokers every year. Second-hand smoke is especially hazardous to young children and people with pre-existing health conditions. Exposure to second-hand smoke in the home can increase people’s chances of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as asthma and lung cancer. It is also linked to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. As for psychosocial issues, it can be a cause for tension among family members and an overall sense of unhappiness in the home.