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The new threat in electronic waste: Environmental burden of electronic cigarettes
1Atayalvaç Vocational School of Health Services, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye
2Health Management, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye
Eurasian Journal of Pulmonology - DOI: 10.14744/ejp.2024.3002

Abstract

With the development of technology, the availability, variety, and use of electronic cigarettes have increased significantly. According to recent studies on the potentially harmful effects of e-cigarettes on health, e-cigarettes are not considered to be less harmful or reliable than classical cigarettes. It is known that the wastes generated by the production, use, and subsequent use of conventional cigarettes are harmful to the environment and the burden they create. Electronic cigarettes’ environmental burden, containing many parts such as batteries, heating coils, e-liquid, plastic cartridges, and microprocessors, is accepted as a new problem. The fact that the wastes that may be cigarette butts of the future, which are formed after the use of electronic cigarettes by individuals, find a place in the garbage requires careful monitoring of the process and taking the necessary steps. Scientific studies investigating the environmental impacts of electronic cigarette production, use, and disposal are limited. The present study aims to reveal the environmental impacts of electronic cigarettes, which are predicted to be an essential public health problem, and examine them on the axis of Sustainable Development Goals. A descriptive case study, which is one of the qualitative research designs, was used for the purpose. As a result of the research, it was revealed that there is a minimal number of studies and evidence on the environmental effects of electronic cigarettes in the literature. It has been observed that governments and manufacturers need to fulfill and delay their responsibilities regarding electronic waste disposal. Suggestions are presented for the measures that governments should take to dispose of electronic cigarette waste before it becomes unavoidable.