Cigarettes: Air Polluters And Health Hazards

Cigarette smoke is a major contributor to air pollution, with a single cigarette producing 10 times more air pollution than a diesel car's exhaust. It contains over 4000 chemical compounds, 60 of which are known carcinogens, and is a Group A carcinogen, making it one of the most dangerous cancer-causing agents. The smoke is made up of 95% gas and 5% particles known as 'tar'.

Cigarette smoke has two classifications in terms of risk assessment: mainstream smoke, which is inhaled directly by the smoker, and sidestream smoke, also known as 'passive smoke' or 'second-hand smoke', which is inhaled by non-smokers. Sidestream smoke often contains higher concentrations of dangerous substances.

Cigarette smoke is linked to various cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension. It is the leading cause of lung cancer and accounts for more than 85% of lung cancer deaths worldwide.

The production and consumption of tobacco also have a significant environmental impact, leading to deforestation, soil degradation, and the release of greenhouse gases. Tobacco farming is responsible for 5% of global deforestation, with 600 million trees cut down every year to produce tobacco and its packaging.

Additionally, cigarette butts are the most common type of litter globally and can take up to 14 years to break down into microplastics, which then remain in the environment indefinitely.

Overall, cigarette smoke is a major source of air pollution, with far-reaching impacts on both human health and the environment.

Cigarette smoke is more polluting than diesel emissions

Cigarette smoke produces up to 10 times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust, according to a controlled experiment reported in Tobacco Control. Environmental tobacco smoke produces fine particulate matter, which is the most dangerous element of air pollution for health.

The experiment was carried out in a private garage in a small town in northern Italy, which has very low levels of particulate matter air pollution. A turbo-diesel 2-litre engine was started and left idling for 30 minutes in the garage, with the doors closed. The car was fuelled with low-sulphur fuel. Three filter cigarettes were then lit up sequentially and left smouldering for another 30 minutes. A portable analyser took readings every two minutes during the experiments. The combined particulate levels in the first hour after the engine had been started measured 88 ug/m3, while those recorded in the first hour after the cigarettes had been lit measured 830 ug/m3: 10 times greater. The diesel engine exhaust doubled the particulate matter levels found outdoors at its peak, but the environmental tobacco smoke particulate matter reached levels 15 times higher.

The results of the experiment show that cigarettes are a major source of particulate matter pollution, contributing to indoor PM concentrations up to 10 times those emitted from an idling diesel engine. This has important educational and ecological implications. For example, Ivan Vince, an air pollution expert from Ask Consultants in London, UK, notes that with more and more people being made to smoke outside, the external environmental effects of cigarettes must increase.

Cigarettes also have a detrimental impact on the environment beyond air pollution. Cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item in US beaches and waterways, and the second most common type of litter globally. They are often disposed of on streets and sidewalks and may be carried as runoff to drains, ultimately polluting rivers, beaches, and oceans. Cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic that does not biodegrade. This plastic pollution has severe consequences for wildlife and water quality. In addition, tobacco farming is responsible for 5% of all global deforestation, contributing to soil degradation and failing yields. Tobacco production also uses a large amount of water and wood, and has high levels of pesticides applied, further affecting water supplies and contaminating soil.

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, 60 of which are known carcinogens

Tobacco smoke is a major source of air pollution, with cigarette smoke producing up to 10 times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust. It is well-known that tobacco smoking is harmful to human health, but it also endangers the environment. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, and of these, more than 70 are known to cause, initiate or promote cancer. These are known as carcinogens. The US Food and Drug Administration listed 79 carcinogens in tobacco smoke in 2012.

Cigarette and e-cigarette waste also contribute to pollution, as they can contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and residual nicotine, which can pollute water, air, and land. Studies have shown that this waste is harmful to wildlife and can be toxic to fish and microorganisms.

The carcinogens in cigarette smoke include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), N-nitrosamines, aromatic amines, aldehydes, volatile organic hydrocarbons, and metals. Some of the Group 1 carcinogens detected in tobacco smoke include ortho-toluidine, 4-aminobiphenyl, and 2-naphthylamine from the class of aromatic amines. In addition, ethylene oxide from the class of ethers, vinyl chloride, and inorganic compounds containing arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and polonium-210 are also present.

The combustion of cigarettes releases these chemicals into the smoke, and they pose a significant risk to health. Exposure to tobacco smoke increases the risk of developing cancer. The particulate matter produced by tobacco smoke is the most dangerous element of air pollution for health, and indoor levels can far exceed those outdoors due to modern engine models and cleaner fuels reducing car emissions.

Cigarette butts are the most common type of litter on the planet

The problem of cigarette butt litter is not just a question of disposal but also of design. Cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic that only degrades under severe biological circumstances, such as when filters collect in sewage. Cigarette butts tossed onto streets and beaches can take at least nine months to break down, and even then, they are only broken down into smaller pieces of plastic that can pollute the soil and water.

The small size and low economic value of cigarette butts also contribute to the inefficiencies of current waste collection and management systems. The widespread littering of cigarette butts is influenced by factors such as smoking location, access to ashtrays and waste receptacles, local laws and regulations, social attitudes, and smokers' beliefs and individual littering behaviour. For instance, research indicates that cigarette butt littering is more common in locations with a high frequency of socialising and where smokers feel a sense of ownership and comfort.

The tobacco industry has also contributed to the problem by marketing filtered cigarettes as healthier, despite research suggesting otherwise. This has led to an increase in the consumption of filtered cigarettes, resulting in more cigarette butts being littered. Banning cigarette filters and requiring manufacturers to pay for clean-up efforts could help curb this issue.

In addition to the environmental impact of cigarette butts, tobacco farming also contributes to deforestation and the release of toxic chemicals. Growing tobacco contributes to deforestation, especially in developing countries, and tobacco farming is responsible for 5% of global deforestation. The production and consumption of tobacco also release carbon dioxide equivalent to driving 17 million gas-powered cars each year.

Tobacco production has a high carbon footprint and significant environmental impact

Tobacco production has a significant environmental impact and a high carbon footprint. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm about the tobacco industry's environmental impact, which costs the world more than 8 million human lives, 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, 22 billion tons of water, and 84 million tons of CO2 every year. The WHO report "Tobacco: Poisoning Our Planet" highlights that the industry's carbon footprint from production, processing, and transportation is equivalent to one-fifth of the CO2 produced by commercial airlines annually, contributing to global warming.

Tobacco farming is a major contributor to deforestation, especially in developing countries, where it promotes soil degradation and "failing yields." It is responsible for about 5% of global deforestation, with tobacco farmers typically clearing land by burning it, increasing greenhouse gas levels and decreasing forest cover. Tobacco growth uses 22 billion tons of water annually and requires more water and wood than most other crops.

The manufacturing and distribution of tobacco products also have environmental implications. In 1995, it was estimated that global tobacco manufacturing produced over 2 million tons of solid waste, 300,000 tons of non-recyclable nicotine-containing waste, and 200,000 tons of chemical waste. If annual cigarette production had remained constant over the past 20 years, tobacco factories would have deposited a total of 45 million tons of solid waste, 6 million tons of nicotine waste, and nearly 4 million tons of chemical waste.

The post-consumption waste from tobacco products is also significant, with cigarette butts being the most commonly discarded waste globally and the most frequently collected item during beach and waterway cleanups. The non-biodegradable cellulose acetate filter attached to cigarettes is a major component of this waste, and the toxic chemicals leached from these filters can contaminate aquatic environments and soil. Additionally, the packaging waste from tobacco products contributes to the solid waste stream, with about 300 billion packages produced for 6 trillion cigarettes manufactured annually.

Overall, the environmental impact of tobacco production is extensive, affecting land use, water resources, and contributing to global warming through carbon emissions.

Cigarette smoke contains radioactive materials

Radioactive particles settle in the lungs of smokers, where they continue to accumulate over time as long as the person continues to smoke. This radiation exposure can cause direct and immediate damage to the cells and tissues of the lungs, increasing the likelihood of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is elevated for smokers, with cigarettes contributing to 70–90% of lung cancer cases worldwide. In addition to lung cancer, cigarette smoking is also linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and mental health issues.

The health risks associated with radioactive materials in cigarettes extend beyond the individual smoker. Secondhand smoke exposure can also harm people nearby, as the toxic and radioactive substances can damage the lungs of those exposed. This is particularly concerning for children, as their developing lungs are more easily damaged by secondhand smoke. In the United States alone, cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause more than 480,000 deaths each year.

The tobacco industry's negligence in addressing the environmental impact of their products further exacerbates the issue. Cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item in the United States, with an estimated 766,571 metric tons of cigarette butts polluting the environment annually. These cigarette butts can take up to nine months to degrade and often end up in waterways, where they release toxic chemicals and heavy metals that harm aquatic ecosystems and wildlife.

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