1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.