Every stage of the commercial tobacco lifecycle affects human health, ecosystems, and the global climate. These impacts begin with the cultivation and processing of tobacco plants and extend through product disposal. Around the world, massive amounts of forest are removed to make way for tobacco farmland and to provide wood for tobacco curing. Commercial tobacco agriculture degrades soil, exposes workers to hazardous pesticides and nicotine poisoning, and contributes to food insecurity. Cigarette butts spread toxic substances and pollution into waterways.