Traditional and electronic cigarettes: harmful also to air quality and the environment| Tabaccologia

Article

The health effects of cigarette smoking are well-documented, but the dangers of secondhand smoke (SHS) outdoor exposure to non-smokers are less commonly acknowledged.

It’s important to remember that SHS contains carcinogens and hazardous air pollutants [1].

In Italy more than 20% of the population smokes, so it is highly probable that a person, sitting at a bar table, or on a deckchair on the beach, downwind of a smoker, could be exposed to the toxic substances emitted by the combustion of tobacco. This has been proven by numerous studies [2-4] conducted in outdoor spaces.

A recent article [5], published by the researchers of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, has shown that the introduction of a smoking ban in a well-known Italian seaside holyday destination has significantly improved the air quality of its beaches.

To evaluate the SHS exposure of non-smokers on the beach, a portable BCUV (Black Carbon with 370 nano meters Ultra Violet lamp) analyzer was used and the results have been compared with the measurements of a fixed BCUV deployed on a terrace close to a highly trafficked roundabout. Measurements were carried out before and after the ban.

The BCUV measurement was selected to detect outdoor SHS pollution level, because previous studies [6] demonstrated a very high sensitivity to biomass combustion when measurements are performer at 370 nm. Fossil combustion BC, however, is better measured with BCIR (Black Carbon with 950 nano meters InfraRed lamp).

Figure 1 shows the results of the measurements done before the ban and clearly show the significantly high level of people exposure to SHS. It’s interesting to note that the mean BCUV concentration levels measured downwind to the smokers is always higher than those measured at the roundabout within the same time window.

Exposure to passive smoking on the beach can also reach high concentration values (red bar).

These peaks, even if brief, can be frequent on crowded beaches and perceptible up to 10 meters downwind from the source. This represents a serious risk to the health of children and particularly sensitive people. A completely different situation was found after the ban.

We can see it more clearly in Figure 2, which shows the marked decrease in the BC value showing that a person who stands under the umbrella, even downwind of the smoking area, is now less exposed than the one who was under the umbrella before the ban.

The results of the measurements showed that no SHS was detected from BCUV during measurements carried out by researchers on the beach.

These results demonstrate that the introduction of the smoking ban has produced a significant improvement in the air quality.

There is another important aspect to take into consideration: the environmental contamination due to the use of different tobacco products and electronic devices.

Every year more than six trillion traditional cigarettes are produced and consumed worldwide. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), with their sales expanding rapidly. A less recognized effect of the use and disposal of tobacco products is the indirect impact on human well-being resulting from environmental pollution. Smoke, tar (the particulate fraction of tobacco smoke), and waste from cigarettes and e-cigarettes contain numerous toxic compounds, including nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals [7]. Every year, billions of cigarette butts (CB) containing pollutants are discarded into the environment, making CB a ubiquitous waste worldwide, especially in coastal regions. CBs can release pollutants into soil, surface water, and groundwater as they age and degrade, some of which can bioaccumulate in food. The CBs themselves are largely made up of cellulose acetate filters, a synthetic polymer resistant to biodegradation, which makes CBs important sources of plastic pollution for the environment.

Although studies on the prevalence of e-cigarette waste in the environment are limited, it is likely that the recent increase in the use of e-cigarettes has led to an increase in their waste and the release of related chemical contaminants. Although e-cigarette vapors may contain fewer toxic substances than combustible tobacco smoke, because they are free of combustion products, they still contribute significantly to ambient air pollution, particularly from aldehydes [8] and carbon monoxide.

Waste related to e-cigarettes also includes replaceable parts with concentrated nicotine residues, batteries and electronic circuits which can also release pollutants into water and soil [9].

Because cigarette butts and waste related to e-cigarettes release harmful contaminants, posing toxic risks to organisms, it’s crucial to implement effective strategies to reduce pollutant concentrations in cigarette butts, minimize their littering by smokers, clean them up, and promote their recycling but, more important, would be promote laws that prohibit smoking in certain outdoor areas, such as parks, beaches, playgrounds and entrances to public buildings.

Promoting outdoor anti-smoking policies requires a multifaceted approach that combines education, legislation, community support and ongoing monitoring. Actively involving the community and collaborating with various stakeholders can increase the chances of success of these policies.

Not smoking in public spaces also provides a good example for young people, discouraging them from taking up smoking. Banning smoking outdoors and on beaches is an important measure to protect public health, protect the environment, ensure the safety and improve the quality of life for everyone.

Figures and tables

Figure 1.BCUV concentration levels before the ban.

Figure 2.Comparison of BCUV concentration levels before and after the ban.

References

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