TOBACCO & the Environment Worldwide, ~3/4 of a Billion kilograms of cigarette butts are disposed of every year. They leave nicotine, heavy metals, plastic fibers, benzene & other carcinogens in our environment. Cigarette butts can take up to 15 years to break down.

TOBACCO & the Environment Cigarette butts also end up in the rivers and lakes where fish, birds and animals eat them by mistake and quite often die from it.

TOBACCO & the Environment Pesticide & Fertilizer runoff from fields & massive deforestation are associated with the curing of Tobacco. The use of land for growing tobacco denies 10 to 20 million people of food and contributes to WORLD HUNGER.

TOBACCO & the Environment In 2008 alone, the WHO Tobacco Atlas noted that worldwide, 10% of all fire deaths were caused by tobacco use, killing 300,000 people & costing $27 Billion. Forest Fires are another costly consequence of Tobacco Use.

TOBACCO & the Environment Other impacts to the environment include: the resources needed to make cigarette lighters & related products and to package & sell all of those products. the resources needed to box & package tobacco products. the resources needed to create the industry, to advertise & market tobacco products. etc., etc.

TOBACCO & the Environment Cigarette manufacturing uses 4 miles of paper an hour just for rolling and packaging cigarettes. A lot of trees are used to make & package cigarettes every year. Energy & Water are wasted in manufacturing cigarettes as well as the soil depletion that occurs with the farming practices.