Tobacco Plastic Waste Problem: Knowledge, Support, Intervention
Patel M, Cuccia AF, Folger S, et al. Support for cigarette filter waste policies among US adults. Tobacco Control. Online First. June 8, 2021. “A cross-sectional, population-based sample of US adults aged 18–64 years (n=2979) was used to evaluate filter-related knowledge and beliefs by smoking status….”
“Regardless of smoking status, 71% did not know plastic was a cigarette filter component and 20% believed filters were biodegradable. Overall, 23% believed filters reduce health harms and 60% believed filters make it easier to smoke; 90% believed cigarette butts are harmful to the environment… Respondents believing that filters do not make cigarettes less harmful were more likely to support a litter fee (aOR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.20 to 1.88) and filter ban (aOR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.64 to 2.50).”
“Comprehensive efforts are needed to educate the public about the impact of cigarette filters in order to build support for effective tobacco product waste policy.”
Comment: Since plastics will continue fossil fuel pollution in the future (See Plastics to outpace coal’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/plastics-outpace-coals-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-2030-report-2021-10-21/), it is important to educate the public and build support for cigarette filter bans in the future.
https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2021/06/08/tobaccocontrol-2020-056451.full
Stephen Hamann
