Research showed that cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which about 69 are carcinogenic. When these chemicals enter the body, they affect cells, causing chronic inflammation, cell transformation...
In Viet Nam, there are 25 diseases related to tobacco use, such as: Stroke, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer... which are the leading causes of death in our country. Research results from K Hospital (the Ministry of Health) show that the rate of lung cancer patients who smoke accounts for 96.8% of the total number of cases of this disease.
Cigarettes are also identified as the cause of disease in non-smokers who regularly inhale cigarette smoke (passive smoking). These people are wives, children, people living in the same family with smokers and people who regularly work in smoky environments. Passive smoking can cause many serious diseases such as lung cancer, respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
The risk of coronary artery disease in passive smokers is 25% to 30% higher than in those who do not inhale cigarette smoke. In children, passive smoking causes respiratory tract inflammation, otitis media, aggravates asthma symptoms and is one of the causes of sudden death in infants. For pregnant women who regularly inhale, it can cause miscarriage, slow fetal development or premature birth.
Studies showed that cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which about 69 are carcinogenic. When these chemicals enter the body, they affect cells, causing chronic inflammation, cell transformation, etc.
Master Pham Hong Quan, Strategic Advisor of the Centeer for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Response said that smoking has been and is increasingly affecting the Earth’s environment. Specifically, the tobacco industry produces about 6,000 billion cigarettes each year and as a result, releases about 840,000 tonnes of filter waste - the most common type of plastic waste on the planet. These filters are also “toxic bombs” containing nicotine, cadmium, arsenic, which seep into the soil, rivers, seas and kill the ecosystem.
In Viet Nam, with about 15 million smokers, the amount of cigarette waste reaches thousands of tonnes each year, contributing to the worsening of the plastic waste crisis. Meanwhile, to produce cigarettes, 4.5 million hectares of land are destroyed each year to grow tobacco and get wood for drying. Moreover, it also emits about 854 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the emissions of an entire country like Finland.
Dr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management under the Ministry of Health said that relevant ministries, branches and units need to urgently review and improve mechanisms, policies and laws on tobacco harm prevention. Urgently prepare to implement the roadmap for increasing taxes on tobacco products, ensuring that by 2030, the tax rate reaches the proportion of retail prices as recommended by the World Health Organization.
In addition, research and propose to expand areas where smoking is completely prohibited; strengthen inspection, examination and handling of violations of tobacco harm prevention; innovating information, education and communication activities with diverse forms, suitable to the characteristics of each region, area, and target group...
Master Pham Hong Quan recommended that ministries, branches and local authorities promptly develop and promulgate specific regulations and strict sanctions against the trading, advertising and use of tobacco, especially illegal electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco; ban all forms of advertising, marketing and sponsorship, especially on social networking platforms.
Smoking has had and is having an increasingly large impact on the earth's environment. Specifically, the tobacco industry produces about 6,000 billion cigarettes each year and as a result, releases about 840,000 tons of filter waste - the most common type of plastic waste on the planet. These filters are also “toxic bombs” containing nicotine, cadmium, arsenic, which seep into soil, rivers, seas and kill ecosystems.
Master Pham Hong Quan, Strategic Advisor, Centre for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Response
It is necessary to apply Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which requires tobacco companies to take financial responsibility for collecting and treating cigarette butts they produce, similar to the EPR model stipulated in the Law on Environmental Protection 2020.
On the other hand, there should be policies to support tobacco farmers to switch to other environmentally friendly crops, contributing to reducing deforestation and emissions; encourage and fund research on the environmental impact of tobacco and develop alternative solutions such as biodegradable materials for filters, to reduce plastic pollution; replicate models of “green zones” without tobacco in schools, offices and residential areas, etc.
