OP-ED by Molly Franco
For so many of us, pets are family. We make decisions every day to keep them healthy and safe. Yet one threat to their health often goes overlooked: exposure to secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, cigars, hookah and other combustible tobacco products contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 known to cause cancer. Exposure increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, and other serious health conditions. While these dangers are well known, research increasingly suggests that pets can also suffer serious health consequences from tobacco smoke exposure.
According to the FDA, cats exposed to secondhand smoke in the home had more than twice the risk of developing lymphoma compared with cats living in nonsmoking households. The risk also increased with the length of exposure. Cats exposed to household tobacco smoke for five years or more had more thanthree times the risk. Research suggests dogs may be affected differently based on the shape of their nose.
Pets can also be especially vulnerable to thirdhand smoke. Thirdhand smoke is the toxic residue that remains long after smoking has ended. It can cling to walls, carpets, furniture, clothing and other surfaces and linger for weeks, months or even years, even after regular cleaning.
For pets, that residue can be difficult to avoid. Dogs and cats spend most of their time close to floors, carpets and furniture where contaminants can accumulate. Because it can also collect on hair, fur and feathers, animals that groom themselves wind up directly ingesting these harmful toxins.
Even smokefree households may not be fully protected. For residents of apartments, condos, co-ops and other multi-unit buildings, secondhand smoke can enter their homes from neighboring units and shared spaces.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), smoke can travel through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, plumbing, hallways, stairwells and ventilation systems. Opening windows, using or running fans or air purifiers cannot completely eliminate exposure.
Comprehensive smokefree housing policies help protect both people and pets from exposure to secondhand smoke. When multi-unit properties are entirely smoke-free, residents are better protected from smoke drifting in from neighboring units and shared spaces. These policies can also protect pets while helping property owners reduce maintenance costs and lower the risk of smoking-related fires.
Across the Hudson Valley, communities are increasingly recognizing the benefits of smokefree housing. POW’R Against Tobacco is working to increase the number of smoke-free multi-unit housing properties throughout the Hudson Valley. We provide free education and technical assistance to tenants, cooperative and condominium boards and property managers interested in adopting or strengthening smokefree policies.
New Yorkers who are ready to quit can take advantage of the New York State Quitline’s “Quit for Your Pet” campaign through October 31. The Quitline offers free coaching, text support and other resources to help New Yorkers quit.
Whether it’s quitting tobacco, supporting smokefree housing or taking steps to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, protecting the air we share protects every member of the family, including our beloved pets.
Molly Franco, Community Engagement Coordinator, POW’R Against Tobacco
Mount Vernon, NY