Challenge your lungs! Electronic cigarettes, or simply “e-cigarettes”, have gotten everyone's attention, bringing new missions as the trend collides with our own planet and health. The rise of e-cigarettes has created a new challenge for the environment and the healthcare system. Electronic cigarettes, also known as "vapes," have become a symbol of a modern alternative to traditional tobacco products. However, their impact on the environment is yet to become the subject of attention and discussion.
There’s a growing prevalence of e-cigarettes and vaping, particularly among teenagers and college students. This is concerning, as a growing rate of vape users means a growing rate of waste production. The sight of young adults immersed in their vaping routines is hard to miss, with enticing aromas wafting through the air. The absence of regulations and the disregard for the environment was a very troublesome concept to assimilate. You can see discarded e-cigarette cartridges, empty pods, and vape devices carelessly strewn about campus grounds. It is apparent that there is a lack of awareness about proper waste disposal. This situation not only affects the health of students but also the cleanliness of the environment.
In reality, they are as bad for the environment as they are for the human body. Every time e-cigarettes are thrown away improperly, the damage is triple:
- Many are based on single-use plastic cartridges, which are poorly recyclable and aren’t biodegradable.
- They represent electronic waste, taking into account that they contain circuit boards and lithium-ion batteries, which then are released as toxics into the environment. When the time comes to replace the battery or device, it should be disposed of in a specially designated place, rather than thrown away with ordinary household waste, as it’s usually done these days.
- All vapes contain nicotine, labeled by the US Environmental Protection Agency as an acute hazardous waste, which has been proven to create air pollution when consumed through vapes in buildings and closed surroundings.
It would be foolish to consider their damaging effects on our health and the environment as separate things. One leads to another. These items end up in landfills or incinerators, where their contents release harmful chemicals into the soil and water. Inhaling or ingesting these pollutants can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and even some types of cancer. Therefore, our health does benefit directly from protecting our environment from all the waste resulting from vapes.
Some may argue that some vapes with a refillable liquid container might be less harmful for the environment, but they ignore the fact that such liquid comes in its own little plastic bottle that will be discarded just like any other single-use cartridge. Therefore, no, they’re not a “greener” alternative. Awareness campaigns always focus on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on our bodies (they’re strongly related to addictive behavior and lung damage), which is not wrong. However, very little has been done about raising awareness regarding their devastating repercussions on the environment. It’s something you won’t even read or hear about in social media.
The rising popularity of vapes and e-cigarettes poses a significant and multifaceted issue that affects both individual health and the environment. While they are often perceived as a less harmful option for smokers looking to quit, their environmental impact cannot be underestimated. Because very little has been done on this topic, urgent, comprehensive discussions, regulation, and public education on the risks of vaping are imperative and should be integrated into both public health and environmental initiatives.
But neither we nor our planet can wait for stakeholders to wake up and act. Our actions do make a difference, every single time. If you’re a vape consumer, be mindful of how you’re throwing it away. Go to your nearest electronic or hazardous materials and they’ll happily collect your vaping kits. Our Planet will thank you profoundly.