房屋管理業屬於服務性行業,工時普遍較長或需輪班工作,不少從業員或因工作壓力而開始吸煙習慣,誤以為有助減壓。因此,於業界推動無煙文化及鼓勵戒煙非常重要,以保障員工及不同持分者(包括住戶、業戶、租戶及公眾)的健康。
煙草含有逾7,000種化學物質,其中很多是帶有毒性及帶放射性的,當中超過70種是致癌物1。吸煙對健康危害極大,多項研究均顯示兩個長期吸煙者中,一個會因吸煙而提早死亡2,平均損失壽命15年。美國衞生部報告2014指出吸煙對身體幾乎每一個器官均造成損害3,吸煙引致的疾病包括︰
自2019年冠狀病毒病(「新冠肺炎」)疫情開始以來,世界衞生組織和美國疾病控制及預防中心等衞生機構就已作出警告,由於吸煙時不能佩戴外科口罩,會增加病毒從手傳播至口的風險,而且吸煙會削弱肺功能和免疫力。研究發現,在新冠肺炎患者中,吸煙人士病情惡化的機會,如需入住深切治療部、使用呼吸器或死亡個案約為已戒煙人士或從不吸煙人士的1.45至2.4倍。吸煙人士應儘快戒煙,以減低患上任何疾病風險。
1US Dep Means artment of Health and Human Services. A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It to You. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2010.
2Peto, R. et al. Mortality from Smoking in Developed Countries: 1950-2000. Oxford University Press, 1994
3US Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking – 50 years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014.