Not Plastic Waste, Cigarette Butts Become Number 1 Pollutant in the Sea
Not Plastic Waste, Cigarette Butts Become Number 1 Pollutant in the Sea
When the world pays attention to plastic waste that pollutes the sea, there are actually more pollutants that need to be considered, namely cigarette butts. According to the Truth Initiative agency cigarette butts contribute around 30-40 percent of pollutants in the sea.
Tobacco control policy researcher Elizabeth Smith from the University of California San Francisco said there are still many people who do not know that cigarette butts are made from materials that are not environmentally friendly. In fact cigarette butts are made with cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that is difficult to decompose.
"Most smokers assume that their cigarette butts are easily recycled," Elizabeth said as quoted by CNN,
The study published in the journal Tobacco Control saw that cigarette butts were toxic to life at sea. Half the fish placed in polluted water, cigarette butts are proven dead within four days.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the cigarette butts end up in the sea due to the habit of littering. About two-thirds of cigarette butts that are thrown away at the roadside, sewers, or rivers will flow following the flow of water until it ends up at sea.
The European Union itself is now trying to formulate a rule in which the tobacco industry must take responsibility for cleaning up cigarette butts.
When the world pays attention to plastic waste that pollutes the sea, there are actually more pollutants that need to be considered, namely cigarette butts. According to the Truth Initiative agency cigarette butts contribute around 30-40 percent of pollutants in the sea.
Tobacco control policy researcher Elizabeth Smith from the University of California San Francisco said there are still many people who do not know that cigarette butts are made from materials that are not environmentally friendly. In fact cigarette butts are made with cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that is difficult to decompose.
"Most smokers assume that their cigarette butts are easily recycled," Elizabeth said as quoted by CNN,
The study published in the journal Tobacco Control saw that cigarette butts were toxic to life at sea. Half the fish placed in polluted water, cigarette butts are proven dead within four days.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the cigarette butts end up in the sea due to the habit of littering. About two-thirds of cigarette butts that are thrown away at the roadside, sewers, or rivers will flow following the flow of water until it ends up at sea.
The European Union itself is now trying to formulate a rule in which the tobacco industry must take responsibility for cleaning up cigarette butts.
Newer Posts
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Older Posts
Comments