1 od 5

How long does it take for a cigarette butt to decompose in nature?

Up to 1 year

Up to 5 years

Up to 10 years, but can be longer, depending on environmental conditions

Cigarette butts decompose very slowly and eventually only break down into microplastics.

Correct answer:

Up to 10 years, but can be longer, depending on environmental conditions

2 od 5

What do cigarette butts release into the environment?

Vitamin C

Toxic, carcinogenic substances and heavy metals.

Minerals

Cigarette butts contain numerous toxic substances, such as nicotine, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and formaldehyde, which are harmful to people, animals, plants, and the environment.

Correct answer:

Toxic, carcinogenic substances and heavy metals.

3 od 5

Why are cigarette butts a problem for the sea?

They cause the sea to warm if we throw them away while they are still burning.

They reduce oxygen levels

They reduce water quality and animals may mistake them for food

A single cigarette butt can pollute up to 1,000 liters of water. Fish, turtles, birds, and other animals may mistake them for food because their appearance is misleading. This can lead to serious health problems, including digestive blockages and poisoning.

Correct answer:

They reduce water quality and animals may mistake them for food

4 od 5

How many cigarette butts end up in the environment each year?

Less than 10 million

Approximately 100 million

More than 4.5 trillion

Cigarette butts are the most common type of litter, which many people carelessly discard into the environment. Every year, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts—more than 8 million per minute—are thrown away, creating a major environmental problem.

Correct answer:

More than 4.5 trillion

5 od 5

What can you do to help reduce the number of cigarette butts in nature?

Multiple correct answers are possible.

I don't smoke

I throw the cigarette butt in the trash or ashtray

I throw the butt into the meteor shaft

I throw the butt into the sea

Every time I go to the beach or the shore, I pick up 5 butts, even if they're not mine

I leave the butts where they are

I bury the butts in sand or press them under rocks

Every cigarette butt (and chewing gum) you throw into a storm drain ends up in rivers, lakes, or the sea. These drains do not have treatment systems or filters that could retain them. Besides polluting nature, they can also cause drain blockages and flooding.

Correct answers

I don't smoke I throw the cigarette butt in the trash or ashtray Every time I go to the beach or the shore, I pick up 5 butts, even if they're not mine

A small butt, a big problem

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Take a short quiz and contribute to a cleaner environment. Your answers help us understand people’s habits and look for suitable solutions.

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