WORLD No TOBACCO DAY 2023

An Irish environmental charity – Clean Coasts – is on a mission to warn the public about the impact smoking-related litter is having on marine wildlife and surrounding environments. During the Big Beach Clean, volunteers found cigarette butts and disposable vapes to be among the most common items left on Ireland’s picturesque beaches. Contrary to popular belief, cigarette filters are not biodegradable and globally contribute to an estimated 300,000 tons of microfibers unleased into the environment each year. According to research, just one cigarette butt per litre of water releases enough toxins to kill half the freshwater or saltwater fish exposed to it.