He Smoking is a chronic, addictive and recurring disease -it must appear again – –. In fact, the World Health Organization classifies it as a mental disorder and behavior, so that the most recent idea is noticed to come up with smoking as a disease and not just as a bad habit.
He Tobacco is a stimulating medicine of the central nervous system. One of the components, the nicotine, has a huge addictive capacity and is the cause for which consumption causes dependence.
During tobacco burning, more than 4,000 different toxic products arise that are not only associated with a wide range of diseases that the Smoking, but are also pollutants of the environment.
Smoking, Health and Environment
Cigarette butts have become the most common residue on the entire planet, which represent A silent but very important source of environmental pollution. It is estimated that around 4.5 trillion pumps from the 6 trillions of cigarettes that are consumed in the world for a year are deposited in the environment.
Numerous are the existing substances in cigarette buttsAfter I had obtained pesticides (present in the filter with a potentially toxic effect on the medium, are able to bio-evaccection in the human food chain), ethyl-fenol (used as flavorings, accumulates in the filter and has the Lethal potential), nicotine (who used as a mentol) spooky) Tar and carcinogen) Tar and carcinogen) Tar and carcinogen) Tar and carcinogen) Tar and carcinogen) Tar and carcinogen.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, the TobacaGalera industry costs the world more than 8 million human lives600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, 22,000 million tonnes of water and generates 84 million tonnes of CO2.
From start to finish, the tobacco life cycle is one Overwhelming contaminating substances and harmful process. Tabak is by far the risk factor responsible for a larger number of cancers, who are responsible for more than 90% of the cases of lung cancer and is also an important causal agent in many other cancers, according to Spanish society of medical oncology.
Relegation and environmental hazard due to smoking
But smoking is not just one Public Health problem, but also a factor of relegation and environmental hazard. From the arms, a reference -pharmaceutical company in the treatment of tobacco dependence, commented on a number of risks caused in our environment:
Disest and relegates the country
The production and healing of tobacco They have a remarkable impact on land and agriculture. The lack of rotation of crops increases the vulnerability of plants and soil for vermin and diseases. Moreover, many of the chemicals used in the process are harmful to both the environment and the health of farmers.
The Deforestation is also related to tobacco productionBecause forests are replaced by plantations and also used for curing the leaves. It is estimated that around 11.4 tonnes of wood are required every year.
The Deforestation contributes to an increase in CO2 emissions and climate changeAs well as the loss of biodiversity, desert formation, larger soil erosion, decrease in fertility and a change of water cycle.
Pollution the air and increase CO2 emissions
The tobacco healing process, known as “smoke curced”, for example used in the production of tobacco of Virginia, uses heat generated by wood burning to dry the leaves in a controlled environment. This healing method results in a Larger emission of greenhouse gases, which contributes to global warming.
Although some companies classify their broadcasts, other tobacco companies still do not. Just as with the presentation of reports in general, there is no standardized formula To compare the places and processes involved in the measurement of the emissionsEven when the tobacco companies have declared them.
The cigarette butts
They are one Very serious problem for the sea and the control of urban waste. The prediction is that there are nine trillion cigarettes during this 2025. Cigarette butts represent 40 % of urban waste and it is estimated that more than 766,000 tons are thrown away every year.
According to a Greenpeace report entitled “Garbage in the Sea”, this is unevenly extend the water column. While 70% end the seabed, another 15% remain in the water column and the rest ends on the beaches.
This Waste influences both marine fauna and human health. The butts also represent between 25 % and 50 % of the waste collected in streets and roads, and that their cleaning and collection have high economic costs.
In recent years, various autonomous communities such as Asturia, Cataluña, Galicia or Basque Country have promoted Environmental cleaning campaigns with citizen participation. Only in 2022 did the Ocean Initiative Volunteer Program of the NGO Surfrider Foundation succeed in gathering more than 487,000 butts in rivers, seas and lakes from different cities in Spain.
Passive smoking
This is a problem in open public spaces. Although the damage caused by passive smoking in closed places such as restaurants and workspaces is known, it also becomes a problem in open public areas such as terraces. This Increased smokers In these places reduces the quality of the air that we breathe And increases the concentration of pollutants in the air.
Studies show that High exposure to tobacco smoke in these environments increases the risk of cardiorespiratory diseasesEspecially with vulnerable people, as well as the incidence of respiratory infections.
That is why it is crucial to tackle the problem that the Smoking Not only to improve air quality outside, but also for Protect the health of employees and customers who visit these spaces.
Concluding, Smoking not only affects the health of smokers and people who are passively exposed to tobacco smokeBut also has serious consequences for the environment.
Grab the Environment -Impact of Smoking requires concrete and coordinated actions. From recycling policy to the promotion of sustainable alternatives, it is crucial to generate consciousness about its ecological footprint. The joint dedication of consumers, companies and governments is the key to reducing their effects and guaranteeing a more sustainable future.