Toxic Cigarettes Ruin Iran’s Wildlife Habitat

Cigarette butts might appear to be small amounts of waste, but the reality is that they cause huge damage to the environment. Cigarette filters are made out of synthetic, non-degradable material, and when they are discarded, they leave behind toxins — not just nicotine, but also lead, copper and chromium, which are embedded in plastic fibers such as cellulose acetate. These toxins are to blame for the deaths of millions of birds and aquatic animals living in Iran’s wetlands, lakes, rivers and seas. 

Photographs by Mohadese Zare for Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA)