Environmental hazards from tobacco and tobacco manufactures

Tobacco cultivation causes the loss of forests; constant handling of fresh tobacco leaves can cause nicotine poisoning; processing of dry leaf causes tobacco dust, giving rise to respiratory diseases among workers; consumption of tobacco products is linked to cancer; and discarded remnants of cigarettes and cigars are a major source of litter and environmental disfigurement. In addition, burning discards cause home and forest fires; and discards spread disease germs and add to the costs of all public services, since they must be removed and the receptacles provided for them cleaned. Service workers are exposed to health risks in performing such janitorial tasks.