Health: 91 cigarette butts in Swiss playgrounds

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

The new national analysis led by stop2drop will for the first time quantify the presence of snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes in Swiss playgrounds. The survey will begin on Tuesday, September 8, and continue until September 22, involving 200 playgrounds across Switzerland. The collected data will be entered into an online questionnaire, analyzed by the organization, and published in November. The previous analysis, conducted in 2024, covered 170 playgrounds and collected over 15,000 cigarette butts, with an average of 91 per playground. According to stop2drop, the results confirm that littering of tobacco and nicotine products is not a marginal phenomenon but a widespread issue in spaces intended for children. Cigarette butts are not harmless waste, as they can contain up to 7,000 chemical substances, and if ingested, can cause poisoning, a particularly relevant risk in places where children play, touch the ground, and easily bring their hands to their mouths. Stop2drop's attention is not only focused on abandoned waste but also on the consumption of nicotine products near children. The organization reminds that passive smoking is harmful even outdoors, and children are particularly sensitive to the substances contained in tobacco smoke. The press release also cites a scientific review indicating that children who grow up exposed to parental or sibling smoking have up to three times the probability of starting to smoke during childhood or adolescence. For stop2drop, making playgrounds free of smoking and nicotine therefore means intervening both on the health and prevention fronts. The issue also has an economic dimension. "Even just for cleanup, municipalities spend over 52 million Swiss francs every year", emphasizes Markus Dick, director of stop2drop. The figure refers to the costs of cleaning up littering waste in Switzerland and includes various fractions of waste, not just cigarette butts.

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.

Actions to Counter the Problem

To counter the problem of nicotine product littering in playgrounds, stop2drop has launched a new national analysis that will quantify the presence of these products across Switzerland. The survey will take place from 8 to 22 September, involving 200 playgrounds. The collected data will be analyzed and published in November, providing up-to-date and accurate information on the current situation. Additionally, 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 signage aims to make the municipalities' commitment visible and remind adults that playgrounds are primarily places for children. A new coordinated campaign is planned for the spring of 2027. Additionally, citizens can contribute to the survey by analyzing the playground in their neighborhood between 8 and 22 September. The participation methods and questionnaire are available on the stop2drop.ch website. Stop2drop, founded in 2019 from a school project in the Canton of Bern and organized as an independent association since 2022, is dedicated to combating cigarette butt littering and raising awareness among the population and politics about the environmental and health effects of nicotine products.

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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