Universally
considered as hazardous to personal health, cigarettes may have even
more harmful effects than what is commonly known. According to a
study by researchers from the San Diego State University, cigarettes
don’t only pollute the air; the continued littering of discarded
cigarette butts and filters, packaging, as well as used matches, also
impacts the environment.
Smokers
might assume that cigarette butts are not harmful to the environment
as they seem to easily decompose and eventually turn into mulch. This
often leads to the complete disregard for the proper disposal of
cigarette butts, as it often finds its way discarded on the road
side, on sidewalks, and even flushed down the toilet.
What
many don’t realize is that filters don’t decompose easily. The
paper will eventually be dissolved and the filter will simply turn
into individual fibers that are non-biodegradable and must be
collected. Used butts also contain the exact same toxins, nicotine,
and carcinogens found in cigarettes and cigars. These can easily
contaminate the environment, finding its way to water sources.
When
conducting waste water management services, professionals often find
used cigarette butts as one of the most common items in septic tanks,
sewers, storm drains, and other waste water containers. While
professionals in hazardous waste disposal have the means to address
the cigarette butts and other related waste products from a physical
standpoint, the harmful chemicals that may have already been absorbed
by the environment may present a bigger problem later on.
0 comments:
Post a Comment