31 May has been designated as World No Tobacco Day by a decision taken in 1988 by the World Health Organization.
This year's World Health Organization World No Tobacco Day message, "Tobacco: a threat to our environment", focuses on the link between tobacco farming and the threat to the environment. The aim is to raise public awareness of the environmental impact of tobacco from cultivation, production, distribution and waste.
As is now scientifically proven, smoking is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and many other conditions. Even on every tobacco product packet there are pictorial warnings about the harm of smoking.
How is the environment threatened?
Globally, the approximate weight of waste generated annually from the total life cycle of tobacco is about 25 million metric tons.
Almost all commercial cigarettes have an attached cellulose acetate filter and this additive is poorly degradable and is a source of microplastic pollution in the environment. Approximately 4.5 trillion cigarettes are discarded into the environment every year. There are more than 7,000 chemicals released into the environment from the use of a cigarette - 70 of which are known carcinogens.
How does e-cigarette waste contribute to environmental pollution?
The disposal of e-cigarette cartridges and batteries is a major environmental concern. Most plastic e-cigarette containers are not reusable or recyclable and end up in gutters, streets and waterways.
Improper disposal of these products is extremely harmful to the environment as they are made up of non-biodegradable materials such as metal coils, plastic, atomizers, batteries and microchips. In addition, many products are disposable.
Tobacco farming is destroying our forests
Tobacco farming accounts for about 5% of total national deforestation, disproportionately affecting the tobacco growing regions of the world, including South Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean.
Pollution - Water Conservation
It is now well documented that cigarette filters are among the most polluting and toxic substances found in water bodies. It takes about 10 years for a cigarette butt to decompose, leaving time for nicotine and chemicals to seep into the surrounding ecosystems.
The entire life cycle of a cigarette requires about 3.7 litres of water, this includes growing, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal. The average smoker could save up to 74 litres of water a day if they quit smoking.
Tobacco farming destroys aquifers. The tobacco growing stage alone requires the same amount of water as it would take a person to grow tobacco for an entire year.
How does tobacco pollute the air we breathe?
Cigarette smoke contributes to higher levels of air pollution and contains three types of greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxides, which pollute the indoor and outdoor environment.
(AF)
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