Toxic effect of cigarette butts leachates on blood markers of Periophthalmus waltoni species from the Persian Gulf region

Bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from leachates of waterpipe tobacco wastes on Peronia peronii species from the Persian Gulf region

This study examines the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Peronia peronii (as the bio-indicator organism) exposed to the leachate resulting from fruit-flavored and traditional burnt tobacco wastes. The ƩPAHs concentrations in the muscle samples of P. Peronii of exposed group I (organisms exposed to the leachate resulting from fruit-flavored waterpipe tobacco wastes) and exposed group II (organisms exposed to the leachate resulting from traditional waterpipe tobacco wastes) and control group (exposed to natural seawater) were 37.49 ± 12.9, 9.32 ± 3.8, and 3.89 ± 1.9 ng/g, respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the mean values of all ƩPAHs compounds in the three groups (group I, group II, and control). The mean Log BAFs in P. Peronii exposed to fruit-flavored and traditional tobacco waste leachates were ranged from 1.70 to 3.61 and 2.49 to 3.07, respectively. The mean Log BAFs of none of the PAHs compounds did not exceed 3.7 (the limit set as "bio-accumulative") in none of the leachates (fruit-flavored or traditional). In the organisms exposed to the leachates resulting from fruit-flavored tobacco waste, Log BAFs of Benzo[b] fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), and chrysene (Chr) lay within the range of 3.3-3.7 ("potentially bio-accumulative"). However, in the organisms exposed to the leachates resulting from traditional tobacco waste, the mean Log BAFs of all compounds did not reach even 3.3. The findings of our study indicate that leachates from tobacco waste, pose significant environmental and health hazards. Considering the prevalence of tobacco smoking, suitable strategies should be employed for management of these hazardous wastes to protect the environmental health.

Improper disposal of cigarette butts in a southeast Asian megacity (Hanoi, Vietnam): Pollution indexes, distribution profiles, and preliminary physicochemical characterization

Although Southeast Asia is among the largest producers and consumers of cigarettes in the world, information about environmental contamination with littered cigarette butts (CBs) in this region is very limited, especially in urban areas. In this study, we collected CBs in 58 locations of 6 categories (i.e., parks, apartments, streets, shopping malls, universities, and relic sites) in Hanoi, a megacity of Vietnam, to elucidate the occurrence, pollution levels, and physicochemical properties of this specific waste type. A total of 25,943 CBs with 86 brands from 16 origin countries was obtained, showing a density range of 0.0056 to 1.16 (mean 0.125) CB/m2 and cigarette butt pollution index (CBPI) range of 0.23 to 86.9 (mean 6.14). CB contamination levels were higher in parks, apartments, streets, and shopping malls than in universities and relic sites, but CB density and CBPI values varied greatly between locations of the same category. Generally, CB contamination levels measured in Hanoi were within a moderate range compared to other countries worldwide. Several physicochemical properties of CBs were preliminarily determined, which partly confirmed the formation of smoking-derived chemicals captured in CBs and their release potentials into surrounding environments. Further investigations are required to evaluate detailed chemical profiles, leaching behavior, and toxic effects of hazardous substances in CBs.

Release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from cigarette butts into the aquatic environment: Levels and ecotoxicity

Discarded cigarette waste may leach toxic elements and can contaminate different environments. In this study, the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in cigarette butts (CBs) leachates were determined, and the release rate of these pollutants from three CBs types such as smoked CBs with and without tobacco (SCBs and SFs) and unsmoked filters (USFs) were examined. The mean concentration levels of PCBs compounds were Collapse

Key Words

• Cigarette butts
• Leachates
• Organochlorine pesticides
• Polychlorinated biphenyls
• Water bodies

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Affiliation(s)

Hossein Arfaeinia Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Mohammad Reza Masjedi Tobacco Control Research Center (TCRC), Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association, Tehran, Iran
Rasoul Asgariyan Department of Environmental, Esfahan Steel Company, Esfahan, 8477153111, Iran
Farshid Soleimani Tobacco and Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Vali Alipour Tobacco and Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Sara Dadipoor Tobacco and Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Reza Saeedi Department of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Anis Jahantigh Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Ammar Maryamabadi R &D Department, Shakheh Zeytoon Lian Co., Bushehr, Iran

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Peronia peronii as a bio-indicator to assess the toxicity of waterpipe tobacco leachates in aquatic and sediment media

This study was aimed to survey toxicity of waterpipe wastes leachates on Peronia peronii in aquatic and sediment environments as two exposure media. For this, leachates of four tobacco types including burnt traditional tobacco (BTT), fresh traditional tobacco (FTT), burnt fruit-flavored tobacco (BFT) and fresh fruit-flavored tobacco (FFT)) were prepared and used to assess their toxic effects on P. peronei in two aquatic and sediment media. The in-vivo toxic effects of five different concentrations of waterpipe tobacco waste leachates on P. peronii were evaluated. The LC50 values of BTTs leachates to P. peronii were 17.50, 16.05, 11.31 and 9.38 g/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively in aquatic media. These values for BFTs leachates were 14.86, 12.38, 9.53 and 7.46 g/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. In the case of sediment media, the LC50 values of BTTs leachates were 15.33, 13.70, 9.09 and 6.70 g/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively while these values for BFTs leachates were 12.00, 10.32, 8.20 and 5.65 g/L. Fruit-flavored tobacco leachates had significantly higher toxicity than traditional tobacco leachates for P. peronii. The findings also showed significant differences between the LC50 values of different leachates in different media of water and sediment. The results demonstrated that even small amount of tobacco waste (~ 5 to 6 g/L) can lead to P. peronii mortality and may also pose a hazard to other aquatic and benthic organisms. The results obtained from the present study can be used as a baseline data to assess local effects causing from unsafe disposal of post-consumption tobacco waste in beach areas. In addition, these findings can lead to encouraging decision-makers to focus more on the types of tobacco waste in the municipal solid waste management system and to implement a source separation process for these wastes.

A review on cigarette butts: Environmental abundance, characterization, and toxic pollutants released into water from cigarette butts

Every year, trillions of cigarette butts (CBs) are discarded into the environment. CBs are frequently found on beaches and in urban areas worldwide due to their high resistance to physical and biological degradation. Components of CBs, such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), cellulose acetate fibers (microplastics), nicotine, aromatic amines, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), are released into aquatic environments. Harmful components released into water from CBs cause both water pollution and toxic effects on different aquatic organisms. In the first part of this review, studies investigating the density of CBs in different environments were reviewed. In the second part, the results of studies investigating the characteristics of cigarette filters using characterization techniques were reviewed. Then, studies on heavy metals, PAHs, microplastics (microfibers), nicotine, aromatic amines and BTEX released into water from CBs were reviewed, and factors affecting the types, amounts and release conditions of compounds (pollutants) released into water from CBs were discussed. In the last section, taking into account the studies carried out to date, deficiencies in the research on pollutants released into water from CBs were identified and recommendations were made for future studies. This review highlights the environmental abundance of CBs, the characterization results of CB filters, and the release into water of some substances in CBs that are pollutants for the aquatic environment. This review may serve as a guide to elucidate the environmental abundance of CBs, the characteristics of CBs/filters, and the concentration in water of some pollutants released into water from CBs.

Toxicity of cigarette butts (CBs) leachate on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Blood biochemical parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, and metabolic profile

The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxic effects of different concentrations of cigarette butt leachate (CBL) (0.0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2.0 µL L-1) on blood biochemistry, oxidative stress biomarkers, and the biochemical profile of the liver and muscle of Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) after 21 days. Increased activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma, and decreased activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in fish exposed to CBL, indicated cytotoxicity. Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels, coupled with reduced total protein, albumin, and globulin levels in the plasma, indicated impaired liver function in the fish. An increase in creatinine showed kidney damage. Increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities, along with the decrease in liver glutathione (GSH) content and total antioxidant capacity in the hepatocytes of fish exposed to CBL, indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) elevation indicated heightened lipid peroxidation in CBL-exposed fish hepatocytes. Raman spectroscopy revealed altered biochemical profiles in fish liver and muscle post-CBL exposure. The results demonstrated that exposure to CBL led to a decrease in phospholipid levels, collagen destruction, changes in phenylalanine levels, and a decrease in the levels of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in fish liver and muscle tissue. Furthermore, the metabolites and compounds of cigarette butt juice were detectable in the liver and muscle tissue of fishes. In conclusion, this study showed that exposure to CBL can have adverse effects on fish health.

Ecotoxicological assessment of cigarette butts on morphology and photosynthetic potential of Azolla pinnata

Cigarette butts (CBs) have become the most ubiquitous form of anthropogenic litter globally. CBs contain various hazardous chemicals that persist in the environment for longer period. These substances are susceptible to leaching into the environment through waterways. The recent study was aimed to evaluate the effects of disposed CBs on the growth and development of Azolla pinnata, an aquatic plant. It was found that after a span of 6 days, the root length, surface area, number of fronds, and photosynthetic efficacy of plant were considerably diminished on the exposure of CBs (concentrations 0 to 40). The exposure of CBs led to a decrease in the FM, FV/F0, and φP0, in contrast, the φD0 increased in response to CBs concentration. Moreover, ABS/CSm, TR0/CSm, and ET0/CSm displayed a negative correlation with CB-induced chemical stress. The performance indices were also decreased (p-value ≤ 0.05) at the highest concentration of CBs. LD50 and LD90 represent the lethal dose, obtained value for LD50 is 20.30 CBs and LD90 is 35.26 CBs through probit analysis. Our results demonstrate that the CBs cause irreversible damage of photosynthetic machinery in plants and also reflect the efficacy of chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis and JIP test for assessing the toxicity of CBs in plants.

Mono and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in waterpipe wastewater: Level and ecotoxicological risk assessment

Increasing of tobacco consumption around the world has led to the production of a large volume of waterpipe wastewater that enter the environment (e.g., coastal areas)and threaten aquatic creatures. However, until now, no research has been carried out on the amounts of monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in hookah wastewater. In the current study, the levels of PAHs and BTEX compounds in waterpipe wastewater resulting from the use of different tobacco brands were determined and their eco-toxicological effects were also evaluated. The mean levels of ƩPAHs in waterpipe wastewater of Al Tawareg, Al-Fakher, Nakhla, Tangiers and traditional tobacco brands samples were 3.48 ± 1.65, 3.33 ± 1.52, 3.08 ± 1.25, 2.41 ± 0.87 and 0.70 ± 0.13 μg/L, respectively. The mean levels of ƩBTEX in waterpipe wastewater of Al Tawareg, Al-Fakher, Nakhla, Tangiers and traditional tobacco brands samples were also 2.53 ± 0.61, 2.65 ± 0.78, 2.51 ± 0.72, 2.35 ± 0.56, and 0.78 ± 0.12 μg/L, respectively. The maximum level of PAHs and BTEX compounds in all brands/flavors samples were for naphthalene (Naph) and toluene, respectively. The concentrations of some PAHs (fluoranthene (Flrt), anthracene (Ant), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo (g,h,i)perylene (BghiP) and dibenzo (a, h) anthracene (DahA)) and BTEX compounds (benzene) in the waterpipe wastewater samples were more than recommended guidelines and standards by the international reputable organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO) for water quality. Waterpipe wastewater can be introduced as an important origin for the release of these dangerous contaminants into the environmental matrixes. Therefore, more stringent regulations should be considered for the safe disposal of such hazardous wastes including waterpipe wastewater.

The fate of leaked heavy metals in the urban environment under different persistence and precipitation scenarios

The use of tobacco will lead to the littering of a large number of filters, and the leakage of pollutants from them into the urban environment is a serious concern. The aim of this study was to analyze the leakage of heavy metals from filter and estimate the annual concentration of pollution leakage in different waste routes and different climatic conditions. The results showed that the highest and lowest density of filter in the studied urban environment were 0.51 and 0.01 number/m2, respectively. According to the estimated annual production of 306 million cigarette butts in the studied area, the leakage of the studied metals was estimated to be 401 g. The share of copper, chromium, and cadmium from the total leakage was 67%, 8.3%, and 1.88%, respectively. The leakage of studied metals in rainy conditions was 2.86 times more than sunny conditions. In different scenarios, the minimum and maximum annual leakage of metals were estimated 23,043 and 350,419 mg/year, respectively. Filters are a little but important source of heavy metal emission into the urban environment, the amount of pollution from which is affected by the consumers' behavior and the efficiency of the urban cleaning system. Education on the correct disposal of filters and increasing the efficiency of the urban cleaning system will lead to a reduction in pollution caused by tobacco consumption.

Quality variations of leachate resulting from cigarette filter recycling as a challenge for its management

Recycling is known as a solution for cigarette filter management, but this may cause the release of trapped pollutants in it. Cigarette smoke toxins and chemicals that trapped in the cigarette filter can accumulate in the recycling leachate. In this study, littered cigarette filters and freshly smoked cigarette filters were recycled and the resulting leachate was analyzed. The results showed that the minimum and maximum Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of the studied leachates were 2100 mg/L and 11,300 mg/L, respectively. The maximum temporal variation in the studied leachate quality was 74.28%, but the maximum spatial variation was 314.2%. COD in the freshly smoked sample was 2600-9200 mg/L more than the littered samples. The average concentration of chromium, lead, nickel, and cadmium in littered samples was 0.023, 0.024, 0.045, and 0.019 mg/L, respectively. Environmental conditions such as humidity, the efficiency of the urban cleaning system in reducing the resistance of littered filters, the difference in the quality of the filter and tobacco, and the difference in smoking behaviors were effective in this variation. Reducing the toxicity of cigarette smoke and improving the efficiency of the urban cleaning system can lead to the same quality, but leachate treatment is necessary to reduce the environmental risk.

First report on BTEX leaching from waterpipe tobacco wastes (WTWs) into aquatic environment

Waterpipe tobacco wastes (WTWs) may contain considerable levels of hazardous contaminants such as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m/p-xylene). However, no research has been carried out on BTEX levels in WTWs and the release of these pollutants into the water environment. This research examined the levels of BTEX in WTWs of flavored/local tobacco and also the release rate of these toxins into three kinds of water, including seawater (SW), tap water (TW), and distilled water (DW) with different leaching times (15, 30 min, 1.2, 4, 8 h, and 1, 2, and 4 days). The mean contents of BTEX in WTW samples of Al-Mahmoud, Al-Fakher, Mazaya, Al-Ayan brands, and local tobacco samples were 17.0 ± 4.14, 19.1 ± 4.65, 19.6 ± 4.19, 18.8 ± 4.14, and 3.16 ± 0.63 μg/kg, respectively. The mean BTEX levels in flavored tobacco samples were considerably greater than that of local tobacco (p < 0.05). The WTWs leaching experiments showed that the levels of BTEX ranged from 5.26 to 6.12, 5.02-5.60, and 3.83-5.46 μg/L in DW, TW, and SW, respectively. All target compounds were found for all exposure times in DW, TW, and SW samples. After adding sodium azide as an antibacterial agent to water samples (simulating biodegradation processes), higher levels of BTEX compounds were detected in SW. Further research is needed to address the potential environmental hazards due to WTWs leaching into aquatic environments.

COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contamination in coastal areas of Granada, Spain

The use of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) as a control measure to avoid transmission against COVID-19 has generated a challenge to the waste management and enhances plastic pollution in the environment. The research aims to monitor the presence of PPE waste and other plastic debris, in a time interval where the use of face mask at specific places was still mandatory, on the coastal areas of Granada (Spain) which belongs to the Mediterranean Sea. Four beaches called La Rijana, La Charca, La Rábita and Calahonda were examined during different periods. The total amount of sampled waste was 17,558 plastic units. The abundance, characteristics and distribution of PPE and other plastic debris were determined. Results showed that the observed amount of total plastic debris were between 2.531·10-2 and 24.487·10-2 units per square meter, and up to 0.136·10-2 for PPE debris, where face masks represented the 92.22 % of the total PPE debris, being these results comparable to previous studies in other coastal areas in the world. On the other hand, total plastic debris densities were in the range from 2.457·10-2 to 92.219·10-2 g/m2 and densities were up to 0.732·10-2 for PPE debris. PPE debris supposed 0.79 % of the weight of total waste and the 0.51 % of total items. Concerning non-PPE plastic waste: cigarettes filters, food containers and styrofoam were the most abundant items (42.95, 10.19 and 16.37 % of total items, respectively). During vacation periods, total plastic debris amount increased 92.19 % compared to non-vacation periods. Regarding type of beaches, the presence of plastic debris was significantly higher on touristic/recreational than in fishing beaches. Data showed no significant differences between accessible and no-accessible beaches, but between periods with restrictive policy about mask face use and periods with non-restrictive policy data suggest significant differences between densities (g/m2) for PPE litter. The amount of PPEs debris is also correlated with the number of cigarettes filters (Person's r = 0.650), food containers (r = 0.782) and other debris (r = 0.63). Finally, although interesting results were provided in this study, further research is required to better understand the consequences of this type of pollution and to provide viable solutions to this problem.