Health: 91 cigarette butts in Swiss playgrounds (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• The new national analysis will also quantify snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes in Swiss playgrounds
• The survey will take place from September 8 to 22, involving 200 playgrounds
• The data will be analyzed and published in November

Key facts

• What: National analysis of nicotine waste in Swiss playgrounds
• When: From September 8 to 22, 2024
• Where: Across Switzerland
• Who: Stop2drop
• Amount: Estimated annual cleanup costs of over 52 million Swiss francs

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Operational details

Health and Safety Implications

The presence of nicotine products in playgrounds poses a serious health risk to children. Cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes can contain up to 7,000 chemical substances, some of which are highly toxic. If children ingest these products, they can suffer poisoning that may have serious consequences for their health. Additionally, passive smoking is harmful even outdoors, and children are particularly sensitive to the substances contained in tobacco smoke. A scientific review cited by stop2drop indicates that children who grow up exposed to their parents' or siblings' smoking have up to three times the probability of starting to smoke during childhood or adolescence. This underscores the importance of keeping playgrounds free of smoking and nicotine to protect children's health and prevent smoking initiation.

Economic Implications

The littering of nicotine products in playgrounds also has a significant economic dimension. Municipalities spend over 52 million Swiss francs annually on cleaning up litter generated by littering. This figure includes various fractions of waste, not just cigarette butts, and highlights the extent of the problem. Additionally, the presence of nicotine products in playgrounds can influence the perception of adults and visitors of public spaces, potentially reducing the attractiveness of these areas for tourism and commerce. This can have negative economic consequences for municipalities and the entire Switzerland.

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Key points

How to contribute to the survey

Citizens can contribute to the survey by analysing the playground in their neighbourhood between 8 and 22 September. The methods of participation and the questionnaire are available on the website stop2drop.ch. This active involvement of the population is essential to obtain accurate and complete data on the current situation of playgrounds throughout Switzerland. In addition, stop2drop has introduced new signage to distinguish smoke-free and nicotine-free playgrounds. So far, 24 Swiss municipalities have decided to join the initiative. The signs want to make the commitment of the Municipalities visible and remind adults that playgrounds are places intended primarily for children. A new coordinated campaign is planned for the spring of 2027. Stop2drop, founded in 2019 from a school project in the Canton of Bern and organized since 2022 as an independent association, is dedicated to combating butt littering and raising public and political awareness about the environmental and health effects of nicotine products. To learn more, check out the calcolatore stipendio to learn how to manage your cleaning costs and available resources.

Source: cdt.ch