Cigarettes: A Major Pollutant And Health Hazard

Cigarettes are the most littered item on the planet, with an estimated 766,571 metric tons of cigarette butts making their way into the environment every year. Cigarette butts are often disposed of on streets, sidewalks, and other public areas, and may then be carried as runoff to drains and ultimately end up polluting rivers, beaches, and oceans. Cigarette smoke produces 10 times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust, and tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 toxic chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. The tobacco industry is responsible for the destruction of 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, 22 billion tonnes of water, and 84 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

Cigarettes contain 600 ingredients, creating 7000+ chemicals when burned

Cigarettes are known to contain approximately 600 ingredients, which, when burned, create over 7,000 chemicals, including at least 69 known carcinogens. Many of these chemicals are toxic and are also found in consumer products like rat poison, yet there are no warning labels on tobacco products.

The process of curing tobacco leads to the formation of some carcinogens, while others are added during the manufacturing process. The thousands of chemicals released when a cigarette is burned include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are also found in oil and coal. These chemicals damage DNA, increasing the likelihood of cancer. They also damage the cilia in our airways, making it harder for people who smoke to clear toxic chemicals from their bodies.

The air pollution emitted by cigarettes is 10 times greater than diesel car exhaust, according to a controlled experiment reported in Tobacco Control. Environmental tobacco smoke produces fine particulate matter, the most dangerous element of air pollution for health. Levels of this particulate matter tend to be higher indoors than outdoors, as new engine models and lead-free fuels have reduced emissions from car exhausts.

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, with studies showing that passive smokers exposed to tobacco smoke have a 30% higher risk of coronary artery disease compared to active smokers. Overall, cigarette smoke exposure is a significant health concern, contributing to around 30% of all deaths worldwide.

Cigarette smoke is 10x more polluting than diesel car exhaust

Cigarette smoke is a significant contributor to air pollution and its associated health risks. According to a controlled experiment reported in Tobacco Control, cigarette smoke produces ten times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust. The experiment, conducted in a private garage in a small mountain town in northern Italy, involved idling a turbo-diesel 2-litre engine for 30 minutes and then lighting three filter cigarettes sequentially and letting them smoulder for another 30 minutes. The results showed that the combined particulate levels in the first hour after the engine was started were 88 ug/m3, while those recorded in the first hour after the cigarettes were lit were significantly higher at 830 ug/m3—a tenfold increase.

The fine particulate matter produced by environmental tobacco smoke is considered the most dangerous element of air pollution for health. These tiny particles, measuring less than 2.5 micrometres, can penetrate deep into the alveoli in the lungs, causing the most harm to this vital organ. Additionally, burning cigarettes release over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic, with at least 69 known to cause cancer.

The findings of the experiment highlight the significant impact of cigarette smoke on air pollution, especially in indoor spaces. While new engine models and lead-free fuels have helped reduce particulate matter emissions from car exhausts, levels of indoor pollution from cigarette smoke can far exceed outdoor levels. This is particularly concerning as indoor spaces are where individuals typically spend the majority of their time.

The high levels of pollution from cigarette smoke have important implications for public health. Air pollution is already recognised as a leading environmental risk factor, contributing to approximately one-ninth of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The particulate matter in air pollution has been linked to various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including myocardial infarction and ischemia. With cigarette smoke significantly increasing the levels of these harmful particulates, it is a major source of indoor pollution and a significant health risk.

Cigarette butts are the most common litter, take 14 years to break down into microplastics

Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter worldwide, with around 4.5 trillion discarded each year. They are often found scattered in green spaces, on sidewalks, along roadsides, on beaches, and in waterways. Disposing of cigarettes on the ground or out of a car is a common practice, with 75% of smokers reporting doing it. The clean-up costs for cities are high, ranging from $3 million to $16 million.

Cigarette butts are made from plastic fibers (cellulose acetate), which are tightly packed together. These plastic fibers are non-biodegradable, meaning they will not break down organically. While cigarettes can gradually decompose depending on environmental conditions like rain and sun, the process is slow. A recent study found that a cigarette butt was only about 38% decomposed after two years.

The plastic fibers in cigarette filters can take up to 14 years to break down into microplastics, persisting in the environment as toxic trash. During this time, they leach harmful chemicals, such as arsenic and lead, into the surroundings and can contaminate water sources.

The environmental impact of cigarette butts is significant. The plastic fibers in cigarette filters can end up in oceans and other water bodies, contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution. The toxic chemicals released from the cigarette butts can harm marine life and disrupt ecosystems.

Additionally, the act of smoking itself contributes to air pollution. When burned, cigarettes create over 7,000 chemicals, with at least 69 known to cause cancer and many being toxic. The air pollution emitted by cigarettes is approximately 10 times greater than diesel car exhaust, according to experiments.

Tobacco production requires large quantities of wood, leading to deforestation

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of pollution, with tobacco smoke producing fine particulate matter that is extremely harmful to human health. A controlled experiment reported in Tobacco Control found that cigarette smoke produces 10 times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust. The experiment, conducted in a private garage in a small mountain town in northern Italy, involved idling a turbo diesel 2-litre engine for 30 minutes with the doors closed, and then leaving the doors open for four hours. The particulate matter levels emitted by the cigarettes were 15 times those measured outdoors, far exceeding the levels emitted by the diesel engine.

The production of tobacco is also a significant contributor to environmental harm, with large quantities of wood needed for the curing process. An estimated 200,000 hectares of forests and woodlands are removed by tobacco farming each year, with deforestation mainly occurring in the developing world. This amounts to 1.7% of global net losses of forest cover, or 4.6% of total national deforestation. While transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) have argued that tobacco-attributable deforestation is not a serious problem, the evidence suggests otherwise.

The percentage of deforestation caused by tobacco farming reached 4% globally by the early 2000s, with substantially higher rates in certain countries such as China (18%), Zimbabwe (20%), Malawi (26%), and Bangladesh (>30%). Environmental criticality due to tobacco-related deforestation is present in 35 countries, particularly in southern Africa, the Middle East, South and East Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.

Some TTCs have taken steps to address deforestation through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. For example, British American Tobacco (BAT) reported planting over 170 million trees in 2015, and claimed that 94.8% of the wood used for curing by its contracted farmers did not come from natural forests. Similarly, Philip Morris International (PMI) has focused on replenishing forests and improving wood use efficiency, while Imperial Tobacco has formed partnerships to help farmers become self-sufficient in wood. However, these efforts have been criticized as insufficient, and there are calls for a fuller account of the deforestation problem and the tobacco industry's influence on environmental research and policy debates.

Second-hand smoke is dangerous, increasing risk factors for coronary artery disease

Cigarette smoke is a major source of air pollution, producing 10 times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust. Environmental tobacco smoke produces fine particulate matter, which is the most dangerous element of air pollution for health.

Cigarettes contain approximately 600 ingredients, which, when burned, create over 7,000 chemicals. Many of these chemicals are toxic, and at least 69 of them are known to cause cancer.

The dangers of second-hand smoke are well-documented. Second-hand smoke, or passive smoking, is when non-smokers inhale smoke exhaled by smokers, as well as smoke from the burning end of a lit cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Research has shown that the more one is exposed to second-hand smoke, the more likely they are to develop early signs of heart disease. This is true regardless of whether the exposure occurred during childhood or adulthood.

Second-hand smoke is particularly dangerous as it increases risk factors for coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is a condition where plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, causing them to narrow and reducing blood flow to the heart. This can lead to heart attacks. Studies have shown that people who report higher levels of second-hand smoke exposure have a greater evidence of coronary artery calcification, a build-up of calcium in the artery walls.

Furthermore, Otsuka and colleagues (2001) found that just 30 minutes of exposure to second-hand smoke compromised the endothelial function in the coronary arteries of healthy non-smokers to an extent that was similar to habitual smokers. This acute endothelial dysfunction contributes to vasoconstriction, atherogenesis, and thrombosis. Overall, second-hand smoke exposure increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 25 to 30 percent.

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