Toddler’s french fry was a cigarette butt

As my son and I were traveling recently, we stopped at a park to have our lunch and enjoy the beautiful weather. My son, a 1-year-old, was enjoying his french fries and would often drop one on the ground, as toddlers sometimes do. On one such an occasion, he reached down to pick up what I thought would be a french fry - instead it was the butt of someone's discarded cigarette.

He put it directly in his mouth - ash side in. After much wiping, I got the large chunks out, but the damage had already been done. My son was exposed to the 4,000 chemicals, including 50-plus known carcinogens that cigarettes contain without even being near a smoker.

As a former smoker, I am completely disgusted by the blatant disregard of cigarette users who dispose of their butts with a slight flick of the hand. The National Capital Poison Center states “Ingestion of more than one cigarette or three cigarette butts can cause serious symptoms in a toddler.” Luckily, my son did not get that far.

Cigarette litter ruins a beautiful setting and the toxic residue in cigarette filters is damaging to the environment.

There are proper disposal techniques for cigarettes, including pocket ashtrays. If you can't afford one, get one by going to www.cigarettelitter.com If you want to quit smoking, call Quitline Iowa at 1-(800) QUIT NOW or go to www.quit

lineiowa.org

If you have to smoke, please dispose of your butts properly.

Lynne Zoulek

Washington