Smoking and Our Environment
By Michael Crookshanks & Sarah Rosenberg
The Facts
- "Three cigarettes can cause more air pollution than a diesel car's exhaust, according to an Italian study." (WebMD)
- In 2005, an estimated 135 million pounds of cigarette butts were dumped on U.S. soil alone
- In California, cigarette butts are the most common toxic waste
- It is estimated that one tree is killed for every 300 cigarettes produced...that's one tree for every 1 1/2 cartons
The Casino Queen
In an Illinois casino, The Casino Queen hotel, a study from 2007 through 2008 was conducted. The tests compared air quality before and after the state enacted a statewide ban on smoking in public locations. The results were shocking:
Smoke is more harmful to the environment than car exhaust
Cigarette butts are one of the leading contributors to waste
Cigarette Butts - The Most Littered Item in the World - Green Initiative
Works Cited
"Cigarette Butts Are Toxic Waste1." Environmental Impact of Tobacco Smoking. TobaccoFreeCA, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.
Hitti, Miranda. "Smoking Worse Than Exhaust for Air Pollution." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.
"Secondhand Smoke and Gaming Facilities - No-smoke.org." Secondhand Smoke and Gaming Facilities - No-smoke.org. Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.