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Straws vs. Cigarette Butts: Which Pollutes the Oceans the Most?

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Cigarette butts are the main pollutant of the oceans, releasing toxic chemicals and metals. It's time to take action to protect the environment.

cellulose acetate

You are eating garbage!

The chemicals in these wastes pass into the food chain in seas and oceans through the marine life that consumes your waste. 

Millions of tons of toxic waste end up in the marine ecosystem.

Despite what in recent days we have seen in various media, the campaigns that have been issued with the aim of reducing, eliminating or avoiding the use of straws, as well as those that emerged to avoid the use of plastic bags for months back, they do not allow us to see the complete picture of what really pollutes the seas, rivers and oceans.

It is clear that we do not want to promote the use of disposable plastics of any kind nor do we want to tell you that these campaigns do not help the protection and conservation of the environment, our intention is to expand what we are not told openly about pollution, in this case, of the oceans.

According to some research by organizations like NBC News, the main pollutant in the oceans is not straws or straws. plastic bags, They are the cigarette butts derived from the bad habits that smokers have when disposing of the butts after having finished each of the millions of cigarettes consumed daily on the planet.

Cigar butts, made mostly of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic, become contaminated with chemicals and metals such as arsenic, iron, cadmium, zinc, nickel or copper, and when they reach the sea they release these metals and other chemicals dangerous and toxic into the water, if we consider that around a third of the cigarette butts consumed end up reaching the sea because they have not been placed in a container for this type of waste when they finish smoking ... do you now perceive the dimensions of the pollution generated by this small item?

While in some countries, specifically the United States of America, organizations such as Cigarrette Butt Polution Problem They have sought a way to constantly pressure governments to promote and achieve a ban on these types of filters. Another campaign that unfortunately is comparable to a failed dream has been to make smokers aware of the correct disposition of these cigarette butts since the main problem is not the use of them but the terrible disposition of them, which requires nothing more than to be placed in a can along with inorganic waste.

Despite being so simple the correct arrangement of butts, most smokers end up depositing their butts directly in the environment, that is, throwing them on the floor, in gardens or, in the case of beaches, leaving them on the sand or throwing them directly into the sea.

In Mexico, in 2016, 25% of the waste on the beaches were cigarette butts. Expanding to the total territory, it is known that that year of all the cigarettes consumed in the country, only 30% of the cigarette butts were deposited in ashtrays or garbage cans; Considering the total number of cigarettes sold, we can calculate that more than four billion cigarette butts were deposited directly on the floor.

Are you willing to generate or make that minimal change in habit for the health of the planet?

COLLABORATION OF EARTHGONOMIC MÉXICO, AC Our mission is to promote the development of society in harmony with the natural environment and respect for living beings.

Frequently asked questions from our readers:

Cigarette butts pollute the oceans more than straws. Read more here: https://www.equilibriumx.com/ecoturismo-y-conservacion/popotes-o-colillas-de-cigarro-que-contamina-mas-los-oceanos
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Last modified: March 27, 2024