Tobacco use has not only been inducing cancer but is also leaving the environment polluted, spreading diseases and possibly contaminating food, says a body of oncologists in Kolkata.
Cigarette and bidi butts, along with chewing tobacco spits littered on streets, should be classified as toxic wastes, they have claimed, pointing to a recent application filed by a doctors' organization with the National Green Tribunal. The possibility of tobacco litter was sharper in Kolkata since the city has more smokers that most other metros, according to Bengal Oncology Foundation.
Responding to an application filed by Mumbai-based NGO Doctors for You, the NGT has directed the Union ministries of environment and health and the Central Pollution Control Board to file their response on the harm caused by cigarette, bidi butts and chewing tobacco to the environment.
"Cigarette butts consist of carcinogens, nicotine and toxic metals such as cadmium, arsenic and lead in a highly concentrated form. All these pose high risk to public health. Action must be taken at the earliest to contain such hazardous litter, said Subir Ganguly, Vice President, Bengal Oncology.
He added that the possibility of cigarette butts transmitting diseases couldn't be ruled out. "In Kolkata, it is not uncommon for people, even children, to smoke cigarette or bidi ends picked up from the road. Apart from the metals that the ends contain, they could also transmit diseases. Tobacco spits, on the other hand, are even more infectious since they have saliva which helps to transmit diseases," explained Ganguly.
Research has shown that about 25%-50% of litter accumulated from the streets comprises tobacco residues. A 100 billion non-biodegradable butts are released in the environment every year.
The possibility of tobacco contamination was a real one, said oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay, Secretary of Bengal Oncology.
"Food sold on the streets is vulnerable since they remain uncovered.
Utensils used by hawkers are often washed and stored very close to garbage dumps full of tobacco wastes," he added.
Doctors for You cited the example of the Howrah Bridge, whose pillars are corroding due to acids in tobacco spit. "We need to build awareness on the of littering. Unless habits change, it will be difficult to curb tobacco litter," said Kalyan Rudra, Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board.
Even though smoking in and around hospitals, government offices and educational institutions is prohibited, the rule is routinely flouted in Kolkata.
Most hospital staircases and corridors in the city are heavily smeared with tobacco spits and peppered with cigarette ends. "Nothing could be more unhealthy than this since patients are more susceptible to infections. Unless smoking in public was banned, it would be difficult to control tobacco litter, felt Ganguly.
Source: Times of India
Cigarette and bidi butts, along with chewing tobacco spits littered on streets, should be classified as toxic wastes, they have claimed, pointing to a recent application filed by a doctors' organization with the National Green Tribunal. The possibility of tobacco litter was sharper in Kolkata since the city has more smokers that most other metros, according to Bengal Oncology Foundation.
Responding to an application filed by Mumbai-based NGO Doctors for You, the NGT has directed the Union ministries of environment and health and the Central Pollution Control Board to file their response on the harm caused by cigarette, bidi butts and chewing tobacco to the environment.
"Cigarette butts consist of carcinogens, nicotine and toxic metals such as cadmium, arsenic and lead in a highly concentrated form. All these pose high risk to public health. Action must be taken at the earliest to contain such hazardous litter, said Subir Ganguly, Vice President, Bengal Oncology.
He added that the possibility of cigarette butts transmitting diseases couldn't be ruled out. "In Kolkata, it is not uncommon for people, even children, to smoke cigarette or bidi ends picked up from the road. Apart from the metals that the ends contain, they could also transmit diseases. Tobacco spits, on the other hand, are even more infectious since they have saliva which helps to transmit diseases," explained Ganguly.
Research has shown that about 25%-50% of litter accumulated from the streets comprises tobacco residues. A 100 billion non-biodegradable butts are released in the environment every year.
The possibility of tobacco contamination was a real one, said oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay, Secretary of Bengal Oncology.
"Food sold on the streets is vulnerable since they remain uncovered.
Utensils used by hawkers are often washed and stored very close to garbage dumps full of tobacco wastes," he added.
Doctors for You cited the example of the Howrah Bridge, whose pillars are corroding due to acids in tobacco spit. "We need to build awareness on the of littering. Unless habits change, it will be difficult to curb tobacco litter," said Kalyan Rudra, Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board.
Even though smoking in and around hospitals, government offices and educational institutions is prohibited, the rule is routinely flouted in Kolkata.
Most hospital staircases and corridors in the city are heavily smeared with tobacco spits and peppered with cigarette ends. "Nothing could be more unhealthy than this since patients are more susceptible to infections. Unless smoking in public was banned, it would be difficult to control tobacco litter, felt Ganguly.
Source: Times of India
