The facts about the environmental impact of cigarettes

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Cigarettes aren't just considered to be a health hazard, they also have a huge impact on the environment. Cigarette butts account for about a third of all collected litter.

Cigarette butts account for a 3rd of the world's collected litter. /CGTN Photo

Out of the roughly 5 trillion cigarettes bought around the world each year, about 65% end up as litter. In fact, some studies estimate that 2.3 million butts are littered every minute.

The problem is that an estimated 75% of smokers who were surveyed admitted to improperly discarding their cigarette butts. That's 3 out of every 4 smokers.

75% of smokers admit to improperly discarding their butts. /CGTN Photo

While some of that discarded butt are biodegradable, the filters are not. The fibers that look like cotton are really a plastic made from cellulose acetate. Scientists say it can take up to 15 years to decompose.

One out of every 10 discarded butts reach bodies of water. The problem is that cigarette butt litter is toxic because of the host of chemicals they contain including arsenic.

In fact, just one butt can turn about 2 gallons of water lethal for small crustaceans.

Cigarette butt litter contains toxic chemicals. /CGTN Photo

Those same chemicals can leach into soil and cigarette butts have been found in animals who have mistaken them for food.

Improperly discarded butts have also been known to start fires.

The good news is that cigarette butts can and are being recycled in some countries and turned into industrial plastic products.

The challenge is convincing people to properly dispose of them.