- Joined
- Jan 18, 2010
- Messages
- 7,177
- Points
- 48
I AM heartened to read that the National Environment Agency (NEA) will review the list of places where smoking is prohibited ("Towards a smoke-free Singapore: NEA replies"; last Saturday).
I propose that the HDB residential area, within the flats and its immediate open area, be included in the list.
My family tries our best to eat well and exercise adequately. It pains my heart every night when the cigarette smoke from my neighbour's flat wafts into our home for hours.
On most nights, my sons sleep with the windows closed, and we do not use air-conditioning. I know of many families with young children who suffer similar problems or worse, when their neighbours chain-smoke throughout the day.
There is research, for instance, in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that people who smoke have 10 years less to live than those who don't.
Singapore's Health Promotion Board (HPB) website states that the smoke breathed in by passive smokers may contain up to three times more tar and nicotine, and 50 times more cancer-causing chemicals than smoke inhaled directly from the cigarette tip.
I wonder how many years of my family's lives have been shortened by my neighbour's habit. Does one have the right to harm his neighbours' health?
There are many people who seem to believe that smokers have the right to smoke within their homes. But this does not take into account the harm to others caused by the smoke.
Our homes should not be a health hazard. I hope that the NEA, HDB, HPB and the relevant authorities can come together to ensure that our homes are a sanctuary, soon.
Lai Mei Chin (Madam)
I propose that the HDB residential area, within the flats and its immediate open area, be included in the list.
My family tries our best to eat well and exercise adequately. It pains my heart every night when the cigarette smoke from my neighbour's flat wafts into our home for hours.
On most nights, my sons sleep with the windows closed, and we do not use air-conditioning. I know of many families with young children who suffer similar problems or worse, when their neighbours chain-smoke throughout the day.
There is research, for instance, in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that people who smoke have 10 years less to live than those who don't.
Singapore's Health Promotion Board (HPB) website states that the smoke breathed in by passive smokers may contain up to three times more tar and nicotine, and 50 times more cancer-causing chemicals than smoke inhaled directly from the cigarette tip.
I wonder how many years of my family's lives have been shortened by my neighbour's habit. Does one have the right to harm his neighbours' health?
There are many people who seem to believe that smokers have the right to smoke within their homes. But this does not take into account the harm to others caused by the smoke.
Our homes should not be a health hazard. I hope that the NEA, HDB, HPB and the relevant authorities can come together to ensure that our homes are a sanctuary, soon.
Lai Mei Chin (Madam)
