The Dangers of Cigarette Ash

Cigarette ash is an aspect of smoking you may barely notice, and likely just consider it a bit of a nuisance when you do. But, aside from the deadly smoke inhaled from every cigarette, cigarette ash can be extremely dangerous to your health and the health of others.

In this post, we’ll discuss more about the dangers of cigarette ash, including to yourself, pets, children, plants, and the environment.

Reduced Air Quality

There’s no question that cigarette ash will reduce air quality – especially for smokers who love consuming tobacco indoors. Wildfire ash from burnt wood, branches, and leaves are harmful enough – imagine the dangers of cigarette ash, particularly if you smoke indoors.

Cigarettes are a cocktail of dangerous chemicals. Because they require combustion, the ash that results from burning them contains carbon and phosphorus – chemicals that shouldn’t enter your lungs at all.

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Aside from these, cigarettes also contain iron oxide, chlorine, nickel, chromium, and more.

So, if you have to smoke, please go outside and use an ashtray responsibly to keep others safe. To keep yourself safe, it’s best to stop smoking for good.

Air Pollution

While the country does have a dwindling population of smokers, every cigarette they consume outdoors also causes air pollution in the local environment. 

According to researchers, smoke and ash from cigarettes produce more pollutant chemicals and airborne particulates than an idle diesel engine.

With air pollution being a significant contributor to global warming, stopping smoking means you’re doing your part to help the world become a better place.

Sticks to Walls and Surfaces

Now that we know the dangerous chemicals in cigarette ash and its impact on the environment, you can be sure its negative effects are magnified by smoking indoors. 

For example, an ashtray full of ciggie butts and ash is a nesting ground for hazardous airborne particulates. Over time, indoor air movements will sweep up small chunks and send them to various walls and surfaces indoors.

So, aside from smoke chemicals sticking on the same surfaces, you should also worry about ash from cigarettes getting almost everywhere.

Imagine if young children and pets ingest food and drink polluted by ash and cigarette smoke… More on this below.

Can Be Ingested by Young Children and Pets

Aside from adults, young children and pets may also ingest ash once it touches their toys, food, and drink – even surfaces and floors around the house. 

Smoke inhalation is already a danger to both children and pets – this danger is multiplied with the ingestion of the ash itself.

There’s nothing to gain and everything to lose by smoking – once you quit, you won’t have to worry about your children or pets becoming sick because they ingested your smoke and ash chemicals.

Harmful to Soil and Plants

Smoke-wise, plants can actually produce food by extracting carbon dioxide and producing oxygen from it. However, what can cause problems is the airborne ash that can go straight to the soil and on the plant itself.

Ash, dust, and debris can inhibit the small pores that extract carbon dioxide from the air – a crucial part of photosynthesis. Ash on the soil will contaminate it with heavy metals like lead, along with phosphates and microplastics, all of which will harm your plants and stunt their growth.

Is Ash from Other Sources Also Harmful?

Yes. Burnt ash from wood, leaves, paper, and anything else organic contains carbon, magnesium, and phosphorus. 

Even worse, chemicals from non-organic materials like plastics can emit bisphenols and phthalates – microplastic particles known to cause neurological, reproductive, and endocrine damage.

Can You Ingest or Inhale Ash While Smoking?

Yes, you can. If you’re smoking without proper ventilation (or even too much breeze), it’s more likely that you’ll ingest cigarette ash. 

Outdoors, ash can get into your nose, eyes, or mouth if you consume tobacco while the wind is blowing towards you. You can expect a similar outcome if you’re smoking somewhere with zero wind movement.

Summary

While you likely don’t think about it that much, the dangers of cigarette ash is something you should keep in mind and never underestimate. Like cigarette smoke, it carries a plethora of dangers that we can all avoid by stopping smoking for good.

If you’re interested in quitting, let’s take it one step further.

Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around! 

If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to friendly Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good, including via the use of pharmacy nicotine vaping products (NVPs).

Click here to book in with a doctor today.