Tobacco OR Life ???
Author: Jamal Niazi (Quaid-e-Azam College of Commerce, University of Peshawar)
Introduction ...
Whenever
we talk about our environment and air pollution, the things which comes in our
mind are Plants, Trees, Air Pollution, Noise Pollution, Global warming and
Ozone layers but no one pays attention to Smoking which is injurious to health
and damaging to the environment as well.
Smoking is very common in our society. That’s why people don’t even
consider Tobacco as a Drug. The air pollution emitted from Tobacco smoke is 10
times greater than diesel car exhaust. Tobacco smoke produces fine particulate matter, which is the most
dangerous element of air pollution for health. Smoking can have the following
negative impacts on our immediate environment;
- Polluting the air
- Destroying forests
- Starting bushfires
- Killing marine creatures
- Tobacco smoke contains tar and the gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
- Over 600 Million trees are being destroyed every year to provide energy to dry/process tobacco. Trees release Oxygen, which is a necessary for human survival. However, when trees are burnt, the result is carbon dioxide and other gases.
- Nearly 7% of bushfires, which are responsible for many deaths each year, are caused by carelessly discarded burning cigarette butts.
- When it rains we can clearly see these Cigarette butts lying in the streets and gutters are washed in to the rivers. These butts destroy the water quality which can have dangerous consequences.
- Cigarette butts take 12 months to break down in fresh water and takes 5 years to break down in sea water.
- Cigarette butts have been found in the Stomach of Birds and sea Turtles and have resulted in the death and destruction of many marine creatures.
Children & Teenager Smokers ...
Smoking
is quite common in children and teenagers nowadays. The Pakistan Pediatrics
Association (PPA) has estimated that 1,000 to 1,200 school-going children aged
six to 16 take up smoking every day in the country. Among the youth (13-15 years old), around 34% are
exposed to second-hand/passive smoke in public places and 27% report exposure
at home. Second hand smoke can make children suffer
serious diseases like Asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS), bronchitis and pneumonia and ear infections.
The developing lungs of children have higher rate of
breathing then adults and little control over their indoor environment. Children
receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking mothers,
are a major cause of lungs diseases in children.
Our Young Generation ...
Smoking
is popular amongst youth due to easy availability and affordability. The number
of Boys and Girls smokers in this country has increased and the number of Girl
smokers increased from 6% to 16.3 percent this year. Not only Cigarettes, the
young generation is also addicted to Shisha which is more harmful and dangerous
for human health and environment as well. Shisha contains more tobacco than a
cigarette. Smoking Shisha for an hour is equal to 1000 cigarettes. Shisha is
also a major cause of Lungs Cancer, Mouth Cancer and Heart Attacks. Chewing
Tobacco is also a habit, fast growing in our youth now days, which is a cause
of Mouth Cancer.
Effects of Tobacco on Environment ...
Tobacco kills nearly Six million people each year out of
which almost 600,000 die from second-hand smoke just from Tobacco. Smoking is
not only a habit, it is an addiction.
Impact on food production
Tobacco plants
are very sensitive that’s why Tobacco farmers use large amounts of fertilizer,
Herbicide and Pesticides. When farmers grow Tobacco there is less land
available for food crops and the soil which has been used to grow Tobacco is
sometimes unsuitable for food crops.
Air Pollution
Tobacco is a
major cause of environmental problems. Because the chemicals released from the
smoke are dangerous. Trees are an asset. Trees are natural air fresheners.
Trees provide Fresh air and Oxygen to everyone and also help to maintain the natural
balance.
Fire Risks
Cigarette and
Matches are the common causes of Fire. Many houses, forests burn due to carelessness
of smokers. Many trees are destroyed in these fires. Many birds’ nests are destroyed
in bushfires. Animals, birds and other creatures die in these fires.
Tobacco and Climate Change
Global warming
is now widely believed to be the single biggest environmental threat facing the
planet. Cigarette production contributes to global warming and altering the
climate. The cutting and burning of trees is a cause of greenhouse effect. Smoke from
cigarettes contains carbon dioxide and methane. Smoking releases about 2.6
billion kilograms of carbon dioxide in the air worldwide every year.
Effects of Tobacco on Health ...
According to a report of SHAUKAT KHANUM MEMORIAL CANCER HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTER, the Nicotine which released from Cigarette smoke is an addictive drug. Nicotine can cause a depressed mood, Sleeplessness, Irritability, Anxiety, Difficulty in concentration, Restlessness and increased appetite. Tobacco is a major cause of Heart Attacks, Mouth Cancer and Lungs Cancer.
How to Get Rid of Tobacco Smoking
- A comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship could decrease the consumption of tobacco;
- High rate of Tax on Tobacco;
- Government must take some serious action and strictly implement Tobacco control Laws in the country;
- Students should make awareness raising societies and create awareness amongst citizens and especially in students because our youth is a major victim of Tobacco smoking;
- People should motivate and encourage Smokers to quit smoking;
- Smokers must plan a quit date;
- Smokers should consult Doctors and get some medications and therapies.
We have discussed approximately everything about Tobacco and now have the information that we didn’t know before. It’s clear now that Tobacco is a drug and injurious for health and also harmful for environment. So now it’s up to us what we choose:
“Tobacco OR Life”
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