How Smoking Affects our Environment

Posted on Wed Aug 29 2007

By:

Jessica Taylor-Cassan

Environment

It is a common belief among cigarette smokers that they are only hurting themselves. In fact they are not only hurting themselves, but also the people who love them and the environment. As an ex-smoker I was curious about the environmental impact of smoking so I decided to investigate. These days everyone knows what smoking cigarettes does to our bodies, but the knowledge of what smoking does to the Earth is not as common. There are some things that every smoker who has any concern for environmental issues should know.

It is fairly obvious that smoking pollutes the air and quite often the ground. However, it is not always obvious how or how much smoking pollutes. Cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals which are exhaled and released into the air and the atmosphere. Approximately 30% of North Americans are smokers, and the percentage goes much higher in developing countries, which means there is a massive amount of pollution being released into the air every day. Trees are often compared to the lungs in our bodies because they perform basically the same functions as our lungs do on a global scale. With all of the pollutants that the trees filter out for us already it seems almost crazy to add more to the air that doesn’t need to be added. We need to breathe, but no one needs to smoke.

The pollution caused by cigarettes does not stop in our bodies or the air; it also affects the land we live on and the water that we drink. Millions of cigarette butts are discarded onto the ground every day. Every year in California the state has a statewide cleanup and cigarette butts account for almost half of the waste that is collected. These are only the ones that are picked up in one state and millions more are never picked up. They end up in the rivers and lakes where fish and animals eat them by mistake and quite often die from it. The rest are left on the ground to decompose which will take an average of 25 years while all of the chemicals and additives leach into the ground and pollute the soil and the plants. If you are going to smoke please consider this information before your throw your cigarette butts on the ground. It looks unattractive, it is a major fire hazard in dry weather, and it is extremely harmful to the environment.

Probably the most impacting aspect of cigarettes is actually producing them. There is the land used to grow the crops all over the world that could be put to better use by planting more trees or food for starving children in third world countries. These crops are also often sprayed with a lot of harmful pesticides and chemicals because tobacco is a very fragile plant and is likely to pick up disease. It also takes a lot of trees to produce and package cigarettes. Cigarette manufacturing uses four miles of paper an hour just for rolling and packaging cigarettes. One tree is wasted for every three hundred cigarettes produced. Those trees could be filtering out the pollutants already in the air instead of being chopped down for the cause of adding new ones. There is still the energy and water wasted in manufacturing cigarettes that needs to be considered and with soil depletion and chemical wastage added on top of that it becomes clear that manufacturing cigarettes has an enormous strain on the environment.

The tobacco industry is quite unwilling to use better technology to reduce the impact they are having on the environment because it would take up too much of their billions of dollars in profit every year. They are often trying to have more trees planted, but since they use trees to dry the tobacco and for rolling and packaging it is probably not concern for the environment, but concern for losing their wood sources that encourage them to do this. They do not care about polluting our bodies so it seems unlikely that they would think twice about polluting our environment. The only way to stop them from harming the environment is to stop buying their products. Quitting smoking is hard, but it can be done and it’s not only about the harm smokers are doing to their own bodies, it’s also about the harm they are doing to the earth and the pain that they are causing their friends and families. For help and tips to quit smoking take a look at here or speak to a health care professional.

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36 Comments so far!!

Gloria Says:

As much as I agree with you my MIL (a smoker) would ask for unbiased scientific proof that this is true and even after she had it she still wouldn't quit. I love her dearly and she's a very nice lady, but her smoking has put a dent in our relationship on more than one occasion. The only way to every get her to quit smoking is if it was outlawed....no that wouldn't work either. She would be willing to go to jail for a busmoke.

APersonWhohatesSmakers Says:

You can eat five portions of fruit and veg a day and exercise regularly, but healthy behaviour means little if you continue to smoke. The message that 'smoking is bad for you' is an old one, so not everyone gives it their full attention. Below we list the health risks of smoking. Why quit smoking? Term watch ‘Cardiovascular’ means the heart and circulation. Cardiovascular disease causes: poor circulation angina (chest pains) heart attacks stroke. Most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer, but it can also cause many other cancers and illnesses. Smoking kills around 114,000 people in the UK each year. Of these deaths, about 42,800 are from smoking-related cancers, 30,600 from cardiovascular disease and 29,100 die slowly from emphysema and other chronic lung diseases. How do cigarettes damage health? Cigarettes contain more than 4000 chemical compounds and at least 400 toxic substances. When you inhale, a cigarette burns at 700°C at the tip and around 60°C in the core. This heat breaks down the tobacco to produce various toxins. As a cigarette burns, the residues are concentrated towards the butt. The products that are most damaging are: tar, a carcinogen (substance that causes cancer) nicotine is addictive and increases cholesterol levels in your body carbon monoxide reduces oxygen in the body components of the gas and particulate phases cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). The damage caused by smoking is influenced by: the number of cigarettes smoked whether the cigarette has a filter how the tobacco has been prepared. Smoking affects how long you live Research has shown that smoking reduces life expectancy by seven to eight years. Did you know? On average, each cigarette shortens a smoker's life by around 11 minutes. Of the 300 people who die every day in the UK as a result of smoking, many are comparatively young smokers. The number of people under the age of 70 who die from smoking-related diseases exceeds the total figure for deaths caused by breast cancer, AIDS, traffic accidents and drug addiction. Non-smokers and ex-smokers can also look forward to a healthier old age than smokers. Major diseases caused by smoking Cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death due to smoking. Hardening of the arteries is a process that develops over years, when cholesterol and other fats deposit in the arteries, leaving them narrow, blocked or rigid. When the arteries narrow (atherosclerosis), blood clots are likely to form. Smoking accelerates the hardening and narrowing process in your arteries: it starts earlier and blood clots are two to four times more likely. Cardiovasular disease can take many forms depending on which blood vessels are involved, and all of them are more common in people who smoke. A fatal disease Blood clots in the heart and brain are the most common causes of sudden death. Coronary thrombosis: a blood clot in the arteries supplying the heart, which can lead to a heart attack. Around 30 per cent are caused by smoking. Cerebral thrombosis: the vessels to the brain can become blocked, which can lead to collapse, stroke and paralysis. If the kidney arteries are affected, then high blood pressure or kidney failure results. Blockage to the vascular supply to the legs may lead to gangrene and amputation. Smokers tend to develop coronary thrombosis 10 years earlier than non-smokers, and make up 9 out of 10 heart bypass patients. Cancer Smokers are more likely to get cancer than non-smokers. This is particularly true of lung cancer, throat cancer and mouth cancer, which hardly ever affect non-smokers. The link between smoking and lung cancer is clear. Ninety percent of lung cancer cases are due to smoking. If no-one smoked, lung cancer would be a rare diagnosis - only 0.5 per cent of people who've never touched a cigarette develop lung cancer. One in ten moderate smokers and almost one in five heavy smokers (more than 15 cigarettes a day) will die of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke in a day, and the longer you've smoked, the higher your risk of lung cancer. Similarly, the risk rises the deeper you inhale and the earlier in life you started smoking. For ex-smokers, it takes approximately 15 years before the risk of lung cancer drops to the same as that of a non-smoker. If you smoke, the risk of contracting mouth cancer is four times higher than for a non-smoker. Cancer can start in many areas of the mouth, with the most common being on or underneath the tongue, or on the lips. Other types of cancer that are more common in smokers are: bladder cancer cancer of the oesophagus cancer of the kidneys cancer of the pancreas cervical cancer COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collective term for a group of conditions that block airflow and make breathing more difficult, such as: Term watch Chronic means long term, not severe. emphysema - breathlessness caused by damage to the air sacs (alveoli) chronic bronchitis - coughing with a lot of mucus that continues for at least three months. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD and is responsible for 80 per cent of cases. It's estimated that 94 per cent of 20-a-day smokers have some emphysema when the lungs are examined after death, while more than 90 per cent of non-smokers have little or none. COPD typically starts between the ages of 35 and 45 when lung function starts to decline anyway. Quitting can help Lung damage from COPD is permanent, but giving up smoking at any stage reduces the rate of decline in lung capacity. In smokers, the rate of decline in lung function can be three times the usual rate. As lung function declines, breathlessness begins. As the condition progresses, severe breathing problems can require hospital care. The final stage is death from slow and progressive breathlessness. Other risks caused by smoking Did you know? A single cigarette can reduce the blood supply to your skin for over an hour. Smoking raises blood pressure, which can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) - a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. Couples who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems than couples who are non-smokers. Smoking worsens asthma and counteracts asthma medication by worsening the inflammation of the airways that the medicine tries to ease. The blood vessels in the eye are sensitive and can be easily damaged by smoke, causing a bloodshot appearance and itchiness. Heavy smokers are twice as likely to get macular degeneration, resulting in the gradual loss of eyesight. Smokers run an increased risk of cataracts. Smokers take 25 per cent more sick days year than non-smokers. Smoking stains your teeth and gums. Smoking increases your risk of periodontal disease, which causes swollen gums, bad breath and teeth to fall out. Smoking causes an acid taste in the mouth and contributes to the development of ulcers. Smoking also affects your looks: smokers have paler skin and more wrinkles. This is because smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin and lowers levels of vitamin A. Smoking and impotence For men in their 30s and 40s, smoking increases the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) by about 50 per cent. Did you know? The British Medical Association estimates that up to 120,000 men have ED because of smoking. Erection can't occur unless blood can flow freely into the penis, so these blood vessels have to be in good condition. Smoking can damage the blood vessels and cause them to degenerate: nicotine narrows the arteries that lead to the penis, reducing blood flow and the pressure of blood in the penis. This narrowing effect increases over time, so if you haven't got problems now, things could change later. Erection problems in smokers may be an early warning signal that cigarettes are already damaging other areas of the body - such as the blood vessels that supply the heart. Smoking and others There are many health-related reasons to give up cigarettes - not just for smokers, but to protect those around you. Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely to be born prematurely and with a low birth weight. Passive smoking The 'side-stream' smoke that comes off a cigarette between puffs carries a higher risk than directly inhaled smoke. Children who grow up in a home where one or both of their parents smoke have twice the risk of getting asthma and asthmatic bronchitis. They also have a higher risk of developing allergies. Infants under two years old are more prone to severe respiratory infections and cot death. For adults, passive smoking seems to increase the risk of lung cancer, but the evidence for an increased risk of heart disease is not yet conclusive. Thinking about quitting? As well as reducing your risk of getting a smoking-related illness, there are other benefits to quitting smoking. General health improves - tiredness and headaches can be linked to smoking. Your sense of taste and smell improve. Your heart will be less strained and work more efficiently. Stopping smoking is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health, but it's a difficult task. Smokers who are trying to kick their habit may be disappointed to find there's no single quit method that guarantees success. The weight of evidence suggests that smokers should set a date to stop, and do their best to quit completely from this point. On average it takes four to five attempts to give up, and there are a number of things that can help willpower: nicotine replacement treatment (NRT) in the form of gum, skin patches or nasal spray Zyban (bupropion) is a medicine that's licensed to help smoking cessation behaviour modification programmes alternative therapies such as acupuncture and hypnosis. Based on a text by Dr Carl J Brandt

Yukie Says:

I heartily agree with what you have out up. It contains the truth, to me. Bravo!

Audrey Stump Says:

Where did you find your information, I would like the websites for a paper I need to write. Audrey Stump

Sabrina Says:

I have a project coming up and this information helps me alot. I got an A+. Thank you! =]

Jamie Says:

this is a great website but it needs a bit more information. i am doing an assignement using this information but i deffinatly don't think its enough. there should be alot more to what smoking does to our invironment than this. sorry, its just not enough!

Stephen Says:

You can't even spell, stop criticizing.

Becc:) Says:

pretty good i guess could of been a bit more spicific but it was good

Cdgfh Says:

there is no good reason to smokke. i am giving a speach and used some info thanks a bunch for this info

Lauren Says:

After reading this I realized Obama is a tree-killer, he reportedly consumes two packs of ciggarettes a day. So, If you do the math he basically kills 54 trees a year. Not including all of the other side effects that has on our environment. Yet, he has a green plan! lol yeah that's ironic!!! Wow, why cant people see through him! We needed Hillary!

MICHAELA Says:

I THOUGHT WHAT U SAID WAS VERY INTERESTING, I HAVE NEVER HEARD THAT SIDE OF THE STORY BEFORE!!! THANKX FOR PUTTING YOUR SELF OUT THERE,I COMMEND YOU!!!

Patrick Swayze Puffs Away While Julianne Moore Puts Down The Pack // Archives // Ecorazzi.Com :: The Latest In Green Gossip Says:

[...] read more about how cigarettes are basically the anti-green, visit AboutMyPlanet.com! No [...]

Georgina Says:

this helped my girl with her geography project. thx

Lala Says:

smoking kills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jessica Says:

Jamie is right that there aren't a lot of details and criticizing his/her spelling really doesn't help your case.

Youanidot Says:

Do you really believe everything you read. The opposing sides put out faulty information on fellow runners. They do that so simple minded people will vote for them..

tater03 Says:

I used to smoke and can vouch for the bad things it can do to your body. As to the what it does to the environment as dangerous as these chemicals in nicotine are I don't doubt for a moment that they have an impact on others and the environment.

Matt Says:

This info is great, i got a school (science fair) and i'm sure i'm going to get and A with all that. Thanks so much!!!

ACCER Says:

I really hate junk science. Which is all 99% of the claptrap on smoking really is. The only actually medical studies on the effects of smoking were either thrown out of court because of faulty research or, upon actually reading the study, didn't validate the headline "Smoking causes cancer". The study was not conclusive and needed further research. For example, 2 pack a day smokers who are also vegetarians have almost no cancer risk. Of any kind. So if smoking, by itself, causes cancer, diet shouldn't have that big of an impact. More actual scientific research needs to be done.

Evironmentally Friendly. Says:

Well, honestly, I think that we need to take care of the environment...its gonna blow up in like, 20 years. And well, when the astronauts go up into space and see that the earth is turning into a tingy red, then we're all in big, big trouble.

Ms. Evil Says:

So I read the article at the top of the page, very informative. I was looking for more information, but I know I won't stop here. I am currently a smoker *gasp* (oh save your breathe). I know the affects on my health it has, honestly I could give 2 craps less. I am more concerned about the environment and the affects my bad habit is taking on the world. I was going to pass up the opportunity to say something but I felt the need considering I do smoke and have for some time. I am not the only person I know who smokes either - majority of my friends and some family of mine smoke as well. And yeah, it's a nasty habit and bad for your body, blah blah blah I've heard it all. But my single most point is that I give a crap about the earth and I am looking for the information that is really going to help me stay smoke free. I've tried quitting before and it is really not an easy thing, especially for me but I would honestly like to put one last cig out and say I'm doing this for good for the better of the world. And I hope that I can only help to make a difference with everyone else I know by standing up and doing this. Honestly, enlighten me with any more information someone may have about numbers and exact affects on the world. I know the article above helped me a bit, but I definitely want to learn more. I'm open to hearing more information about this matter - the affects on my health, save it b/c I already know and don't care. Thanks ppl :)

Maria Frausto Says:

This helped me alot. I had no clue what it did to the environment. I'm not a smoker myself but after reading this I'll never be a smoker.

Rasheed Says:

How can you justify smoking as a environmental human impact when their is nuclear power plants a deforestation going on around the world. Surely these are the main problem. Yes i understand that every does there own little bit and on a global scale this would be great. Don't use think the Government should lead by example? Until then i continue to smoke, i enjoy casually smoking, its social & skag trendy

Rasheed Says:

Ms. Evil Says:

"How can you justify smoking as a environmental human impact when their is nuclear power plants a deforestation going on around the world." Honestly, there are millions upon millions of smokers out there, and America isn't the worst of them too (which is a suprise). But if there were a whole crap ton of people that quit smoking for the shear fact of the environment that alone would have a huge impact on global warming! I'm doing research on this cause and affect myself because like I stated before I give a crap about the world. I have been a regular smoker for about 8ish years, and up until recently never really thought it had that much of an impact on the world. I'm not the typical smoker that throws their butts anywhere either, I haven't thrown a cigarette butt on the ground for quite some time now. But I do hope that the word about this would get out to people. Hey maybe those Truth commericals should have environmental impact messages on them instead of how many people die a year or whatever else info they have. Honestly I know about all that - and so does everyone that smokes, we're not stupid...

Jessica Taylor-Cassan Says:

I can justify it as an environmental impact because it is an environmental impact as are nuclear enery plants and deforestation. However Those are more complicated subjects given our need for alternative energy sources and our dependance on wood for a large portion of our home building materials. I'm not saying that I support nuclear energy and deforestation, but they at least do more good for the world than being "trendy and social". And by the way anyone who still thinks smoking is trendy should go to the cancer ward in a hospital or talk to someone with a larengectomy to get a glimpse into the future. How can you justify harming your body and the environment just to be trendy?

Ms. Evil Says:

re: Jessica Taylor-Cassan :: If you REALLY think people smoke because of it's shear "trendiness" you have a lot more problems than just the environment. They do have things in them which make them extremely addictive.

Nancy Says:

Dear Ms. Evil. No one can enlighten you - only you can do that. Help yourself by browsing around the web and you'll find lots of info and statistics about the impact of smoking on the environment - butt litter, smoke, the industry and it's attitude towards it all etc. etc. I wish you good luck and strength. You an do it.

ACCER Says:

The planet isn't going to blow up from humans being environmentally careless. We are not going to destroy this planet. No, not even by smoking. The worst we are going to do it render it uninhabitable by humans. It will shake us off like a bad cold and move on.

Stav Says:

Probsbly so Accer, but for some reason i'd quite like to stick around... People who smoke are addicts, and smoking is a prop for some perceived failure... to get people to stop, you have to find the root of the addiction, just like any other lethal drug... and it is lethal... it may take a bit longer than shooting heroin into your veins but it does the same job eventually... Give people help, not lectures, and you might start to get somewhere.

Hhah Says:

i hate smoking it is a desease

Bookworm Says:

Thx alot i needed this 4 my science project :-D

Thrdstripedburd Says:

where is the authors info?

X-Smoker Says:

thx 2 this articl i quit smoking i really care about the enviorment (\_/) (O.O) (>O

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