The New Threat in Electronic Waste: Environmental Burden of Electronic Cigarettes

English (OpenAlex)

With the advancement of technology, the availability, variety, and use of electronic cigarettes have increased significantly.Recent studies on the potentially harmful effects of electronic cigarettes on health suggest that they are not considered less harmful or reliable than traditional cigarettes.It is known that the waste generated by the production, use, and disposal of conventional cigarettes is harmful to the environment and poses a significant burden.The environmental burden of electronic cigarettes, which contain many components such as batteries, heating coils, e-liquid, plastic cartridges, and microprocessors, is recognized as an emerging problem.The fact that waste from electronic cigarettes, which could become the cigarette butts of the future, is already appearing in garbage highlights the need for careful monitoring of the process and prompt action to address it.Scientific studies investigating the environmental impacts of electronic cigarette production, use, and disposal are limited.This study aims to reveal the environmental impacts of electronic cigarettes, which are predicted to become a significant public health problem, and examine these impacts in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.A descriptive case study, a qualitative research design, was used for this purpose.The research revealed a minimal number of studies and limited evidence on the environmental effects of electronic cigarettes in the literature.It has been observed that both governments and manufacturers are delaying the fulfillment of their responsibilities regarding electronic waste disposal.Recommendations are provided for the measures governments should take to manage electronic cigarette waste before the problem becomes unavoidable.