In 2009 the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit published cross-sectional data (July 2007 to June 2008) from the Ontario Tobacco Survey, an ongoing random-digit-dialling telephone survey of Ontario adults. Fifteen hundred smokers and 1,000 non-smokers were asked “In the past six months, how often have you noticed any tobacco smoke entering your home from a neighbour, neighbouring unit or from outside the building?” Highlights of the survey include:
- 28% of respondents living in multi-unit dwellings were most likely to notice smoke entering their units;
- Age, gender, marital status, education, home ownership, and presence of children in the home were not significantly related to noticing SHS entering homes.
In 2009 the Region of Waterloo, Ontario conducted a survey of all 2,723 Waterloo Region Housing tenant households. This was the first of its kind in the province.
In 2006 the Ontario Tobacco-Free Network commissioned Ipsos Reid to poll adult Ontarians living in multi-unit dwellings about their experiences with infiltrating second-hand smoke. The 1,832 person sample size included apartment renters as well as condominium owners. Highlights of the poll include:
- Almost half (46%) reported second-hand smoke entering their unit in the past twelve months from somewhere else in the building;
- Only 27% complained about the smoke to their landlord or another outside agency;
- Of those who complained, 60% got no response and 30% were told there was nothing that could be done;
- A majority (64%) of all those surveyed indicated they would likely choose a smoke-free building if such a choice existed.
In 2007 Health Canada commissioned Decima Research to undertake a national survey on second-hand smoke infiltration. The telephone survey had a sample size of 3,071 Canadian adults 18 years and older, of which 1,055 lived in multi-unit dwellings (rental apartments, condominiums, duplexes, row houses, semi-detached). Highlights of the poll include:
- 19% of all multi-unit residents sometimes, often or very often experienced second-hand smoke seeping into their personal living space;
- 62% of those who experienced unwanted second-hand smoke reported it entering through an open window or door;
- 57% of non-smokers would prefer to live in a building where smoking is not allowed; and
- 80% of respondents indicated that they currently do not allow smoking inside the home.