World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. It is meant to encourage a one day free from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe. The main aim is to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to one death every six seconds..
Key facts
- Tobacco kills up to half of its users.
- The tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people per year
- Without urgent action, the death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030.
- More than 80% of the world’s one billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Total consumption of tobacco products is increasing globally, though it is decreasing in some high-income and upper middle-income countries.
- An average of one person every six seconds dies due to smoking – and accounts for one in 10 adult deaths
- More than 600 000 nonsmokers die from exposure to tobacco smoke a year.
- More than 80% of the one billion smokers worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Tobacco caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century. If current trends continue, it will cause up to one billion deaths in the 21st century.
- There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer.
- Only 26 countries, representing 8.8% of the world’s population, have comprehensive national bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
- Only 21 countries, representing 6.2% of the world’s population, have tobacco tax rates greater than 75% of the retail price.
- 63% of all deaths are caused by NCDs, for which tobacco use is the greatest risk factor, after high blood pressure
In some countries, children from poor households are frequently employed in tobacco farming to provide family income. These children are especially vulnerable to “green tobacco sickness”, which is caused by the nicotine that is absorbed through the skin from the handling of wet tobacco leaves.
Below is a list of few of the chemicals and their harmful effects.
Acetone Cyanide
Aluminum DDT/Dieldrin
Ammonia Ethenol
Arsenic Formaldehyde
Benzene Hydrogen cyanide
Butane Lead
Cadmium Methanol
Carbon monoxide Nicotine
Carbon dioxide Tar
Chloroform Vinyl Chloride
Lets spread awareness through social media and convince all our smoking friends and relatives not to take the path of smoking suicide.
http://whyquit.com/world_no_tobacco_day.html
Cigarettes are killers that travel in packs.
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