Microplastic and the Cigarette, from Bangladesh experience

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Microplastics are by no means a recent phenomenon. When plastic particles become exceedingly small—1/16th of an inch or even smaller)—they are referred to as microplastics. Larger than this, they are no longer called microplastics; instead, they are referred to as mesoplastics. These mesoplastics fall within the range of 5 to 10 centimeters or one-sixteenth of an inch to one-sixth of an inch. Understanding these names and dimensions will help you grasp the whole concept. Terming the present “plastic civilization” or “plastic society” is not at all an exaggeration. We encounter plastic in our daily lives, whether we like it or not, we are consistently in the vicinity of plastics. This leads us to many questions about where these plastics come from and how we recognize them as plastics. Today, the topic of this piece will be how many people recognize cigarette buds as plastics. Cigarettes, or smoking, deeply intertwines with our lives, chosen or not. We no longer debate their health aspects, yet smokers bear responsibility. The individual harm is catastrophic for the planet, emphasizing the environmental damage caused. Neglecting the health aspect of cigarettes is unacceptable; it’s about the entire picture.

In today’s market, cigarettes typically include a filter, tobacco, and a paper wrapper. While tobacco’s history dates back to around 6000 B.C with its first association believed to be with Native Americans, the initial use differed1 . The modern cigarette, featuring a filter, emerged in the 1950s, replacing rod-shaped, filter-less versions2 . Despite tobacco’s long history, cigarette prevalence surged during and after the first and second World Wars. Soldiers received cigarettes in their rations during these periods, a practice that endured, leading to a presumed gradual rise in cigarette users, especially post-World Wars.

In that era, most cigarettes lacked filters, a trend observed in Bangladesh a few years back. The harmful nature of cigarettes has been widely acknowledged, gaining increased attention since the early 1900s3 . Diverse arguments surround this issue, notably the misconception that cigarette filters, often thought to be biodegradable, actually contain cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, challenging their natural decomposition.

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