Author: Team CAPS

Cigarette Filters Threaten the Environment and Public Health, and Contribute to Plastic Pollution

Pollution is increasing as the world’s population expands. Our lack of knowledge, awareness and use of unnecessary plastic is contaminating the soil, water and air. At present, the use of plastic in the manufacture of practically all products is expanding, one of which is the cigarette filter! A research published in the Lancet indicated that about 1 billion people globally smoke cigarettes. More than 4.5 trillion filters are released into the environment each year. According to the World Health Organization, Bangladesh ranks 8th (39.10 percent) in the list of top ten countries in the highest cigarette smoking rate. The rate of tobacco use is steadily increasing. According to the WHO, approximately 8 million people worldwide are expected to die by 2030, the most of them in low-middle income nations. From research, these discarded filters are the most common source of global waste, despite the severe damage to the global environment as well as human health. Every year 49 billion cigarettes are consumed in Bangladesh. One of the major sources of environmental pollution is cigarette filters. Each component of cigarettes is hazardous to human health and the environment, including the filter. This may appear to be a safety net for smokers at first appearance, but it is also a significant contributor to environmental pollution.