The World Health Organization (WHO) marks World No Tobacco Day each May 31st, partnering with public health partners around the world to recognize the efforts being made to reduce the devastating harms of tobacco use. This year’s theme, “Tobacco: Threat to our environment”, is an opportunity to highlight how the tobacco industry makes huge profits at the expense of both the environment and the health of those who become addicted to their products.
“The detrimental impact the tobacco industry has on the environment is staggering,” says Linda Stobo, Manager of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control at the Middlesex London Health Unit. “Every stage of the tobacco lifecycle, from growing the plants, to manufacturing, global distribution, toxic second-hand smoke emissions and litter, degrades the environment and harms the health, not only of millions of people, but our planet as well.”
Globally, more than 3.5 million hectares of land are destroyed each year to grow tobacco; these efforts also contribute to the deforestation and nutrient degradation of some 200,000 hectares of land. In addition to the environmental impacts of deforestation and soil degradation, cigarette butts are the most common form of litter world-wide, with more than 4.5 trillion of them being discarded each year, releasing thousands of chemicals into the air, water, and soil.
The emergence of e-cigarettes in the early 2000s brought additional environmental and health concerns. Vaping devices contain plastics, heavy metals and electronic waste, such as microchips, which are not biodegradable. “Many manufacturers do not provide consumers with clear instructions about how to safely dispose of e-cigarette waste, leaving it up to the individual to figure out what to do with these devices and accessories once they’re done with them,” says Stobo. “As a result, harmful chemicals are leaching into the ground due to the improper disposal of these products in landfill sites.”
The increase in vapour product waste has become a major concern. Since the legalization of e-cigarettes containing nicotine in 2018, youth and young adult vaping rates have skyrocketed. According to the Canadian Student, Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, the prevalence of vaping among Canadian students (grades 7-12) has doubled, rising from 10% in 2016-2017 to 20.2% in 2018-2019. E-cigarettes also produce an aerosol cloud made up of toxic substances and fine particles, which are known to have harmful effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Most e-cigarettes also contain nicotine which is highly addictive.
The environmental impacts of the tobacco and vapour product industry may provide one more reason to encourage those who use these products to quit. Additional information about free cessation counselling is available through Health Connect Ontario by calling 811, or visiting www.ontario.ca/healthconnectontario.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519 617-0570
Spokesperson:
Linda Stobo, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit¬¬