BACKGROUND-AIM:
Secondhand smoke is annoying and causes long-term health effects. Any exposure at a distance of 9 meters (about 28 feet) is dangerous. Surveys in multi-unit buildings found that about 1/2 of people, adults and children, complained about exposure to secondhand smoke at home and their suffering from it. Many people who smoke themselves but detest exposure to neighbors’ tobacco smoke gave the same answer. People believe that protection from Tobacco Smoke Incursion (TSI) is long due, according to a 2023 study. The government was called by health experts to provide such protection. This exposure is now compared to all dangerous environmental pollutants. The right to breathe at home air free of tobacco toxins is a basic constitutional right. Parents cannot protect children from tobacco smoke incursion into their homes. This abstract discusses a simple method used to resolve the worldwide problem of Tobacco Smoke Incursion to residences.

METHODS:
In February 2021 the Clean Air Association and 6 individuals who suffer badly from TSI exposure applied to the Israel Supreme Court claiming that the Ministry for the Environment (MFE) will issue binding rules, under existing standards of air pollution and smelling nuisances to provide such protection, a method which in general is open to be utilized in many countries (Application number 1416/21). Practically the applicants represent close to 3 million people who suffer from TSI. .

RESULTS:
The application instantly achieved wide public opinion and was covered in the media 68 times, most of them favorably. People became aware that they are entitled to this protection and started presenting individual lawsuits. The Court conducted 3 oral hearings in the application, and in May 2024 issued an order to show cause demanding that the MFE will issue regulations under the Law for the Prevention of Nuisances to prevent TSI. A final judgment is expected soon. In a very simple administrative action which is open in most countries, either to a court of law or to the relevant government authorities, under existing laws and standards. According to a study in Israel, actual prevention of TSI will also bring a huge reduction of smoking in general, similar to that achieved through prevention of smoking in public places.

CONCLUSIONS:
TSI prevention can be achieved in a very simple administrative action which is open in most countries, either to a court of law or to the relevant government authorities, under existing laws and standards. According to a recent study, actual prevention of TSI will also bring a huge reduction of smoking in general, similar to that achieved through prevention of smoking in public places.