You may know that secondhand smoke is a mixture of smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products and exhaled smoke, and that it contains more than 4,000 chemicals – more than 50 of which are cancer-causing agents.

You may have heard about the recent report from the Surgeon General saying the scientific evidence is now indisputable – secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard and there is no safe level of exposure. Secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk of SIDS, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, and causes thousands of lung cancer and coronary heart disease deaths each year.

But did you know that in the United States, the home is now the prime location for exposure of children and adults to secondhand smoke because Americans spend 69 percent of their time in the home? Or that medical and scientific evidence proves that exposure to secondhand smoke can be life-threatening – and that no air filtration system, ventilation or cleaning procedure can remove these toxic chemicals?

Most Mainers have heard this public health message, and surveys indicate that up to 78 percent of people prefer to live in a smoke-free environment. Yet for people who live in rental housing, the decision of whether or not to expose themselves or their families to secondhand smoke is out of their control. Sadly, smoke drifting into units from neighboring units is still common, and the health effects are staggering.

The good news is that property managers and owners have the right to designate some or all apartment units as smoke-free if they do it in conformity with the requirements of their lease or rental agreements.

Smoking is not a protected right. Landlords all across Maine are implementing smoke-free policies in their buildings because doing so reduces their risk of fire, maintenance and cleaning costs and insurance premiums, and is a positive draw for tenants.

This summer the Housing Authority of Brewer voted to prohibit smoking in two elderly housing complexes that it owns, including the E. Charles Dartnell Apartments, the Heritage and the Substantial Rehabilitation Family Project. The decision takes effect immediately for new tenants. Present tenants who smoke will have until Sept. 1, 2007, to comply.

Brewer joins housing authorities in Auburn, Sanford, Mount Desert Island and Old Town in making some units smoke-free. Lewiston Housing Authority is close to implementing its policy and Bangor Housing Authority is considering setting some smoking sections in their elderly housing.

If you own or manage rental property, you can start the move to a smoke-free policy. The Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine provides information, resources and technical assistance to help landlords make the right decision for their buildings. Landlords and tenants alike can visit www.smokefreeforme.org for information and free materials.

If you live in your own home, make it a smoke-free zone:

. Talk with your family about making your home smoke-free. Discuss how you are going to do it and why. Get everyone’s input.

. Post a smoke-free home decal on your door to let people know that you do not allow smoking in your home.

. If you live with a smoker, be supportive and encourage him or her to quit, but be firm about your own rights to live in a smoke- free home. You can also let them know about the free Maine Tobacco Help Line at (800) 207-1230.

. Inform family members of your decision not to smoke inside your home and ask for their support.

. Instruct caregivers not to smoke around your children.

Good decisions are made with good information. Visit www.smokefreeforme.org for landlord and tenant information and to search the free on-line housing registry for a smoke-free rental property in your area.

Janet Spencer is director of the Bangor Region Partners for Health.