Apartment Living Exposes Children To More Second-Hand Smoke

A new study out of Massachusetts General Hospital shows that children who live in apartments are at a greater risk from second-hand smoke compared with children who live in houses.

Researchers found children in apartments had 45 percent higher levels of Cotinine in their systems, a chemical connected to nicotine.

"Now we really have the evidence to show that without tobacco smoke in the air, the home is a safer place for everyone, particularly for children, the elderly and those who spend the most of their time indoors," said senior author and MGH doctor Jonathan Winickoff.

Winickoff said the findings show that multi-unit housing should be smoke-free.

"Landlords and building owners will now be deciding about how soon to go smoke-free, not whether or not to go smoke free. And I think no one wants to be the slumlord of the last building to still allow smoking inside."