Environmental impact and human health damage of cigarette production, consumption and disposal

Although the health hazards of smoking are widely recognized, the environmental impact and human health damage of cigarette production, consumption, and disposal often go unnoticed. With over 6 trillion cigarettes produced globally, the environmental burden and health risks are increasingly scrutinized. This study constructs a life cycle inventory using actual data from cigarette production in China to quantify the environmental and human health impacts across the entire supply chain for the first time. Findings indicate that fine particulate matter formation is the primary environmental impact category, followed by global warming, with tobacco cultivation, curing, and manufacturing identified as key processes. Carbon emissions from global tobacco cultivation to manufaturing exceed 92 Mt annualy. Disability-adjusted life years because of negative environmental impacts amount to 3.61 × 10⁵, translating into a global average loss of 23.74 min of healthy life lost per capita. Optimization measures focusing on energy options, electricity improvements, and materials reduction are proposed. Specifically, choosing clean energy sources, reducing chemical fertilizers, irrigation water, filters, and packaging materials, as well as strengthening the management of tobacco straw and cigarette butts can significantly reduce environmental impact and human health damage. Increasing public awareness and controlling cigarette consumption remain the most effective solutions to this global issue.