Source: The Wire
The cultivation process of tobacco contributes to deforestation and pollution due to chemicals that are used and produced in the process, such as nicotine.
In addition, smoke emissions are toxic and contribute greenhouse gases that deteriorate the environment, and the remaining cigarette butts and tobacco waste actually make up “the largest number of individual pieces of litter in the world,” reported The Wire.
A report from the World Health Organization says that tobacco kills 7 million people every year, and in the U.S. remains the largest preventable cause of death an disease, killing more than 480,000 people in the country each year.
The amount of forest needed to balance out the impacts of tobacco is approximately one hectare to cure half a hectare of tobacco crop, reported The Wire.
When this need is not met to balance out the negative impacts, then deforestation occurs.
Read full story: The Wire