Tobacco Facts

The Tobacco-free policy is part of Macalester’s commitment to creating a healthy and sustainable environment for all members of our campus community, and is designed to be positive and health directed.

The 2010 Surgeon General’s Report concludes there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. “Any exposure to tobacco smoke—even an occasional cigarette or exposure to secondhand smoke—is harmful.” A report from the American College Health Association Guidelines encourages all universities and colleges to achieve and maintain an in- and outdoor tobacco-free environment.

Electronic Cigarette Facts

1. It’s not just water vapor. The claim that e-cigarettes emit only harmless water vapor is not true. E-cigarettes operate by heating a mixture of liquid nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals. E-cigarette aerosol contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, other toxic chemicals, and carcinogens. There is currently no evidence that using e-cigarettes or inhaling the secondhand emissions from an e-cigarette is safe. (Tobacco Control, PLOS One, Tobacco Control)
2. Electronic cigarettes are unregulated, untested devices. E-cigarettes are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although the FDA has initiated steps to regulate e-cigarettes. The FDA has noted that “quality control processes used to manufacture these products are inconsistent or nonexistent.” Due to lack of regulation, e-cigarette companies are not mandated to disclose product ingredients or health effects, and many companies provide insufficient and/or partly incorrect information about the contents of their products. (US Food and Drug Administration, International Journal of Drug Policy)
3. E-cigarettes have not been proven safe or effective cessation tools. Research shows current smokers are more likely to use e-cigarettes than former or never smokers. There is currently no conclusive scientific evidence that e-cigarettes are effective in helping people quit smoking. (American Journal of Public Health, CDC, American Heart Association Circulation)
4. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is not an innocuous substance. It is a powerful stimulant with host of side effects, including increased blood pressure, bronchospasms, joint pain, insulin resistance, heart arrhythmias and coronary artery constriction. High amounts of nicotine can be fatal, especially to small children. (Multiple Sources, Medical News Today)
5. The manufacturing and consumption of e-cigarettes is not sustainable. Most e-cigarettes contain a lithium-ion battery and other components that are not easily recyclable and often end up in landfills. The energy and materials used in the manufacturing process and a lack of environmentally responsible disposal options or regulation mean that e-cigarettes have a long-lasting negative impact on the environment.
6. The tobacco industry is in the e-cigarette business. Altria and R.J. Reynolds, makers of Marlboro and Camel, each have an e-cigarette brand. Tobacco companies have a long history of targeting young people, LGBTQ, African Americans, and low-income communities with their products. With no regulations on how and where e-cigarettes are advertised, the tobacco industry can rely on their decades-old tactics or targeting and manipulation to create a new generation of life long customers.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

Electronic waste is a daunting environmental problem.  E-cigarettes, vapes and Juul, which contain hard plastics, lithium-ion batteries and heavy metals, contribute to the estimated 99 billion pounds of e-waste discarded globally each year.

These devices can leach metals, battery acid and nicotine into soil and waterways, causing irreparable damage to the environment and human health. Unfortunately, there are currently no regulations around e-cigarette disposal and Juul and other e-cigarette manufacturers do not offer recycling programs.

E-Liquid Is Hazardous Waste

E-liquid contains liquid nicotine, which is a harsh chemical and hazardous waste.

Batteries, Chargers and Atomizers Are E-Waste

The batteries, chargers and atomizers of e-cigarettes contain nonrenewable metals and chemicals that are toxic to landfills, so recycle them as e-waste. Find out how to properly dispose of e-waste.

Links

Research gaps related to the environmental impacts of electronic cigarettes, by Hoshing Chang

E-cigarette policy should consider environmental effects, expert says

E-cigarettes and a new threat: How to dispose of them

HEALTH FACTS

Cigarette use has long been known to be a primary cause of lung cancer, and has also been linked to an increase risk of cancers of the mouth, lips, nasal cavity and sinuses, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix, colon/rectum, ovary, and myeloid leukemia. (American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2013)

Moreover, the list of other diseases attributed to or aggravated by tobacco use continues to grow as the body of research into the health impacts of tobacco use expands. The list of related conditions now includes but is not limited to oral cancer, heart disease, emphysema, Buerger’s disease, cataracts, cervical cancer, kidney and pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis and stomach cancer.

FINANCIAL FACTS

In addition to the health and human toll of tobacco use, there is also a financial burden to the state of Minnesota including:

• $2.06 billion annual healthcare costs directly caused from smoking tobacco use
• $465 million State Medicaid expenditures due to tobacco use
• $1.27 billion smoking-causes productivity losses in the state of Minnesota
• $609 per residential household in state and federal tax expenditures

Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the Toll of Tobacco in Minnesota

SOCIAL JUSTICE FACTS

Tobacco control is a social justice issues.  It is bound up in corporate accountability, economic systems, and public health advocacy transcending the health arena.

The tobacco industry spends $34 million a day to market and promote its products in the United States.   The tobacco industry has a history of targeting specific populations. It has increased marketing in youth magazines and campaigns directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. The tobacco industry also targets women and communities of color and people of low socioeconomic status.  Source: National Association of County and City Health Officials

The tobacco industry has succeeded in addicting those who have the least information about the health risks of smoking, the fewest resources, the fewest social supports, and the least access to cessation services.  Source: Legacy for Health

The tobacco industry argues that smoking is an individual choices that all adults have the right to make.  This idea is false.  Almost all smokers have their first cigarette and start smoking before they turn 18.  Nearly 9 out of 10 smokers started smoking by age 18, and 99% started by age 26.  CDC Fact Sheet.  Nicotine happens to be one of the most addictive drugs available, making it very, very difficult to quit once you have started.

SUSTAINABILITY FACTS

Cigarette butts are the most commonly discarded piece of waste worldwide. It is estimated that 1.69 BILLION pounds of butts wind up as toxic trash each year, creating an enormous environmental, health, and economic burden.  Contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts are not biodegradable.  Cigarette butt waste is a huge environmental issue, with a global impact — it is both unsightly and unhealthy.

Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals —including arsenic, cadmium, lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—that could pollute the environment and harm its ecosystems. This hazardous material persists in the environment for some time and is often ingested by aquatic creatures, wildlife, and pets, not to mention small children, who suffer serious health problems as a result.  They are mostly made of plastic and are only biodegradable under ideal conditions, making them a long-lasting threat to the environment. Cigarettes and the Environment