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Olah-Kovacs B, White HJ, Tingey T, Boots B, Green DS. The impacts of smoked cigarette butt leachate on a common freshwater gastropod, Lymnaea stagnalis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2025; 376:126425. [PMID: 40368014 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2025] [Revised: 05/01/2025] [Accepted: 05/10/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025]
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CBs) are one of the most littered items worldwide. As litter they present physical (plastic fibres and burnt tobacco) and chemical (compounds retained on the filter and in the tobacco) contamination with detrimental effects on the receiving ecosystem. There is however a dearth of research on their effects and on the ability of organisms to recover from exposure. Here, the effects of CBs on mortality, growth, feeding, egg production and hatching success of the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis), were investigated, but also their recovery post-exposure. Individuals were exposed to CB leachate at either 0 (control), 0.25, 0.5 or 1 CB L-1 for four weeks and subsequently they were allowed to recover for a further three weeks without contamination. The presence of CB leachate increased mortality and decreased egg production, egg viability, and growth of snails. Feeding rate was not affected by the presence of CB during exposure phase. All variables showed evidence of recovery once not exposed to the contaminant. Mortality decreased, growth in shell length and biomass increased whilst egg production and viability increased to the same level as controls. This study found that even environmentally realistic concentrations of CB leachate (0.25 CB L-1) can cause mortality and decreased reproductive success of aquatic snails. The improvement of these responses after removal of the leachate indicates that preventing or removing CBs could restore affected ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitta Olah-Kovacs
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom; Global Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Hannah J White
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Tingey
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Bas Boots
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Dannielle Senga Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom.
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2
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Dolar A, Mušič B, Skalar T, Marolt G, Drobne D, Škapin AS, Jemec Kokalj A. Microplastics from cigarette filters: Comparative effects on selected terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2025; 374:126199. [PMID: 40185183 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2025] [Revised: 04/01/2025] [Accepted: 04/02/2025] [Indexed: 04/07/2025]
Abstract
Cigarette filters comprise plasticised cellulose acetate, a synthetic polymer categorized as bioplastic. They represent a significant source of microplastics (MPs), in particular microfibers, and associated chemicals, yet their impact on organisms, especially soil invertebrates, is not well-studied. This research examines the effects of MPs milled from smoked (SCF-MPs) and unsmoked cigarette filters (UCF-MPs) on terrestrial invertebrates (Porcellio scaber, Tenebrio molitor) and aquatic invertebrates (Daphnia magna, Brachionus calyciflorus). SCF-MPs and UCF-MPs were found to be 9.06 ± 4.1 μm and 12.71 ± 6.82 μm in size, respectively. Both samples contained triacetin and potentially toxic metals, while SCF-MPs also contained nicotine and a larger number of trace organic compounds. While exposure to SCF-MPs or UCF-MPs (up to 1.5 % MPs, w/w in soil) did not affect the survival of either terrestrial invertebrate, several physiological responses were observed. These included changes in immune parameters, energy-related biomarker levels, and altered glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities. Both types of MPs were acutely toxic to aquatic invertebrates, reducing the survival rates of B. calyciflorus (10 mg L-1 of either particle after 48h exposure) and D. magna (100 mg L-1 of SCF-MPs after 48h exposure). SCF-MPs generally caused more pronounced effects than UCF-MPs. This study highlights the need for effective environmental management to address both smoked and unsmoked cigarette filters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andraž Dolar
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Rudolf Maister Grammar and Secondary School Kamnik, Novi trg 41, SI-1241, Kamnik, Slovenia
| | - Branka Mušič
- Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva ulica 12, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Skalar
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Marolt
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damjana Drobne
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrijana Sever Škapin
- Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva ulica 12, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Polymer Technology, Ozare 19, SI-2380, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
| | - Anita Jemec Kokalj
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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3
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Soltani M, Shahsavani A, Hopke PK, Bakhtiarvand NA, Abtahi M, Rahmatinia M, Kermani M. Investigating the inflammatory effect of microplastics in cigarette butts on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sci Rep 2025; 15:458. [PMID: 39747550 PMCID: PMC11696037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-84784-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 12/27/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Cigarette filter microplastics are composed of cellulose acetate that does not undergo biological or photo-degradation. These microplastics are readily dispersed and can be found abundantly in water, soil, and air. These fibers possess high absorption capabilities, allowing them to collect and retain pollutants such as toxic elements. As a result, they are regarded as potential dangers to living organisms. The purpose of this study was to analyze the immune response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) when exposed to cigarette filter microfibers, measuring the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-6 (interleukin-6). In this study, we examined how used cigarette cellulose acetate microfibers affect the viability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in an appropriate culture medium at three concentrations: 50, 100, and 200 µg/ml. In addition, this study investigated the release of inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL6 from PBMCs exposed to 200 µg/ml cigarette filter cellulose acetate. The results showed that increasing the concentration of cellulose acetate fibers of one of the brands in the culture medium has a significant effect on reducing cell viability. The 200 µg/ml in DW is more effective than 50 and 100 µg/ml in reducing cell viability. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed an inflammatory immune response when exposed to 200 µg/ml cellulose acetate from cigarette filters. They produced inflammatory cytokines that showed a significant increase compared to the control sample. In general, it can be concluded that cellulose acetate fibers in contact with body cells stimulate them and cause an inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monire Soltani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Shahsavani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Air Quality and Climate Change Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Nadali Alavi Bakhtiarvand
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnoosh Abtahi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Rahmatinia
- Air Quality and Climate Change Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Kermani
- Research Center of Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Green DS, Boots B, Tingey T. Rapid, detrimental response of estuarine benthic macrofauna communities to pollution by littered cigarette filters and e-liquid. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 209:117208. [PMID: 39489055 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2024] [Revised: 10/08/2024] [Accepted: 10/24/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
Cigarette butts are amongst the most littered single-use plastics on coasts, yet their impacts on marine ecosystems, especially on a community level, are not well understood. Recently, e-cigarettes have become popular and are a novel litter item in marine habitats. Preliminary research indicates that e-liquid can harm individual organisms, but few studies have been done and none on a community level. In a mesocosm experiment, we tested the impacts of cigarette butts (0.25, 1 butt L-1) or e-liquid (1 mL L-1) on infaunal invertebrate communities using intact sediment cores. After two weeks, the abundance of polychaetes, bivalves, and gastropods was significantly reduced in mesocosms with 1 cigarette butt L-1 compared with controls. Exposure to e-liquid resulted in severe oxygen depletion (<1 mg L-1) and almost complete mortality of sediment infauna after just four days. As litter, cigarette butts and disposable e-cigarettes both pose a threat to estuarine biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Bas Boots
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Tingey
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
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5
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Guttmann N, Wolinska J, Spahr S, Martínez-Ruiz EB. Cigarette butts enable toxigenic cyanobacteria growth by inhibiting their lethal fungal infections. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 286:117149. [PMID: 39383821 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/11/2024]
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CBs), of which around 4.5 trillion are discarded annually, are one of the most common types of litter worldwide. CBs contain various chemicals, including metals, nicotine, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can leach into water and pose a threat to aquatic organisms such as cyanobacteria and chytrid fungi. Chytrids, zoosporic fungi that parasitize cyanobacteria lethally, play a crucial role in regulating cyanobacteria blooms by delaying or suppressing bloom formation. Despite the prevalence of CBs in the environment, the impact of their leachates on cyanobacteria-chytrid interactions is not well understood. We assessed the effects of CB leachate on the interaction between the toxigenic cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii and its chytrid parasite Rhizophydium megarrhizum. CB leachate inhibited cyanobacterial growth in uninfected cultures. Infection prevalence decreased at 0.2, 2, and 10 CB L-1, with the two highest concentrations completely suppressing infection. Interestingly, at the highest CB concentration, cyanobacterial biomass in infected cultures was comparable to that of uninfected cultures not exposed to CB leachate, suggesting that the presence of chytrids mitigates the impact of the leachate. This study demonstrates that CB leachates are a potential environmental hazard that can enable cyanobacterial growth by inhibiting chytrid infections during epidemics. In addition, our research highlights the importance of assessing the effects of chemical mixtures, such as those leached from CBs, on multi-species interactions, such as host-parasite dynamics. These assessments are crucial to better understand the impact of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Guttmann
- Department of Evolutionary and Integrative Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany; Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Justyna Wolinska
- Department of Evolutionary and Integrative Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany; Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephanie Spahr
- Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Erika Berenice Martínez-Ruiz
- Department of Evolutionary and Integrative Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Novotny TE, Hamzai L. Cellulose acetate cigarette filter is hazardous to human health. Tob Control 2024; 33:663-668. [PMID: 37072169 PMCID: PMC11503102 DOI: 10.1136/tc-2023-057925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The World No Tobacco Day 2022 theme emphasised tobacco's adverse environmental effects, including through agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, use and the disposal of tobacco product waste. A main concern regarding this toxic waste is the cigarette filter, which is attached to nearly all commercial cigarettes and is predominantly made from a plant-based plastic (cellulose acetate). Laboratory studies have demonstrated the chemical toxicity of discarded cigarette butts, and there is growing public concern regarding environmental plastic pollution resulting from single-use cellulose acetate filters. Important considerations are whether the filter has any protective role against the harms of smoking and whether it should be regulated as a plastic environmental pollutant. There is persistent misunderstanding among smokers and policy makers about the implied value of the cigarette filter. The cellulose acetate filter is simply a marketing tool that encourages smoking initiation and reduces intentions to quit smoking. This is because it makes smoking easier and implies added safety through the presumed filtration of inhaled smoke. The sale of filtered cigarettes should be prohibited to protect public health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Novotny
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Laila Hamzai
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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7
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Howlader M, Selim A, Shohan MH, Shuvo SNA, Al-Humaidi JY, Islam MM, Shaibur MR, Althomali RH, Akter N, Afrin S, Sultana T, Singha SK, Betto ZS, Rahman MM. Exploring cigarette butts pollution in Saint Martin Island: A marine protected area. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116439. [PMID: 38718549 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Saint Martin Island (SMI), the only coral island in Bangladesh, is located in the Bay of Bengal and has been identified as a marine protected area (MPA). Littering cigarette butts (CBs) waste in an ecologically sensitive environment can have numerous adverse effects. The purpose of this research is to investigate the abundance and density of CBs in SMI and to assess the pollution status using the Cigarette Butt Pollution Index (CBPI). This study is conducted based on the visual survey method in the three types of land use zones of SMI. During the peak season, the investigation was carried out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in December 2023. A total of 4481 CBs item were counted, and the density ranged from 0.37 to 1.76 m-2 with an average value of 0.99 m-2 across 12 sampling campaigns. The highest density was observed at service zones, and the fishing zones had the lowest density. The calculated CBPI values revealed that 75 % of the sampling stations were in the "severe pollution" while 25 % were classified as "high pollution" status, underscoring the prevalence of hazardous CBs across most areas of SMI. To tackle these issues requires regulatory measures, public awareness initiatives, and community involvement. Effective waste management and eco-friendly product promotion can help reduce CBs pollution risks in marine protected islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masum Howlader
- Environment and Resource Analysis Center Ltd., Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
| | - Abu Selim
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu 3226, Nepal
| | - Mobin Hossain Shohan
- Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | | | - Jehan Y Al-Humaidi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Molla Rahman Shaibur
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Raed H Althomali
- Department of Chemistry, College of Art and Science, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Wadi Al-Dawasir 11991, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nurunnahar Akter
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh
| | | | - Tania Sultana
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata 411008, India
| | - Santush Kumar Singha
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, American International University Bangladesh, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Zaren Subah Betto
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammed M Rahman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Kim L, Kim SA, An YJ. Microfibers from cigarette butts can induce exoskeletal alteration in whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115734. [PMID: 37922758 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CB) are a source of microfibers (MFs) in aquatic environments, posing a risk to the health of aquatic organisms. Research has been focused on examining the toxicity of CBs on ecological receptors, including invertebrates. More focus has been on death, growth, or movement inhibition of but less on exoskeletal effects in malacostracans. We evaluated the alteration in the carapace structure of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) caused by MFs derived from CBs (CB-MF). Exposure to CB-MF damaged the gills, the main organs adsorbing calcium in shrimps to generate a hard carapace, disturbing calcium uptake via respiration. Rapid ecdysis caused on CB-MF exposure reduced the environmental adaptation capacity of crustaceans in the absence of normal pigments in the chromatophore of the carapace. These findings indicate that MFs released from CBs released into the aquatic environment can adversely affect exoskeletal alteration within the overall ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang A Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Mghili B, Lamine I, Bouzekry A, Gunasekaran K, Aksissou M. Cigarette butt pollution in popular beaches of Morocco: Abundance, distribution, and mitigation measures. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115530. [PMID: 37717497 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts pose a significant challenge in managing solid litter, with an estimated 4.5 trillion of them being discarded into the environment annually. This study investigated the pollution of eleven beaches along the Moroccan Mediterranean by cigarette butts compared to other types of marine litter between 2018 and 2023. Sampling was conducted using the visual survey technique according to a standardized protocol. A total of 50, 575 items were collected with cigarette butts (14.62 %) and plastic caps/lids drinks (10.93 %) being the most common. Our survey of eleven beaches revealed 7395 cigarette butts, giving an average density of 0.06/m2 comparable to other countries in the Mediterranean. The analysis of the results shows significant differences in the abundance cigarette butts according to the beach typology, seasonality, sediment type, and number of beach users. Moreover, the study discovered a decrease in beach pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, resulting in less litter collected compared to pre- and post-pandemic periods. The Cigarette Butt Pollution Index was categorized as very low pollution in M'diq and Kaa Asrass, low pollution in Ksar Sghir, Fnideq, Amsa, Oued Laou, significant pollution in Martil and Nador and sever pollution in Saidia and Sababia. The CBPI was higher during summer and winter, significantly associated with the density levels of beach users. The study recommends immediate action by the local administration to prevent the potential pollution of groundwater and sand by toxic substances leached from cigarette butts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco.
| | - Imane Lamine
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems: Marine and Continental Ecosystems, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, BP 8106, Agadir, Morocco; Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Technical Health, Errachidia
| | - Assia Bouzekry
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Kannan Gunasekaran
- Centre for Aquaculture, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600019, India
| | - Mustapha Aksissou
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
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Green DS, Almroth BC, Altman R, Bergmann M, Gündoğdu S, Warrier AK, Boots B, Walker TR, Krieger A, Syberg K. Time to kick the butt of the most common litter item in the world: Ban cigarette filters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161256. [PMID: 36587695 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette filters offer no public health benefits, are single-use plastics (cellulose acetate) and are routinely littered. Filters account for a significant proportion of plastic litter worldwide, requiring considerable public funds to remove, and are a source of microplastics. Used cigarette filters can leech toxic chemicals and pose an ecological risk to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Bottom-up measures, such as focusing on consumer behaviour, are ineffective and we need to impose top-down solutions (i.e., bans) if we are to reduce the prevalence of this number one litter item. Banning filters offers numerous ecological, socioeconomic, and public health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Bethanie Carney Almroth
- Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Altman
- Independent Scholar, Providence, RI, United States of America
| | - Melanie Bergmann
- HGF-MPG Group for Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Sedat Gündoğdu
- Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University, 01330 Adana, Turkey
| | - Anish Kumar Warrier
- Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Bas Boots
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Kristian Syberg
- Dept. of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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11
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Conradi M, Sánchez-Moyano JE. Toward a sustainable circular economy for cigarette butts, the most common waste worldwide on the coast. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157634. [PMID: 35905959 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The circular economy is based on the maximum use of resources by reducing, reusing, and recycling the elements used. Currently, the items littered most frequently in the world are cigarettes butts (CB) as these debris are freely disseminated in the marine habitat, they are generally difficult to collect and very complex to recycle. Litter CB is a great social problem that generates excessive economic costs and serious environmental problems. CB is also not biodegradable and highly toxic to marine organisms and presents a distinctive mixture of physical and chemical contamination. However, little research has been done on the management and recycling of this dangerous waste. Several proposals have been made to incorporate this waste into high-volume articles of direct production or recycling, but collection logistics are lacking since the current system is inefficient, in addition to the poor environmental behaviour of citizens. This work presents a current synthesis of the CB problem from all its possible aspects in order to have a global vision of the life cycle of the CB, indicating both the known and the gaps in the knowledge of each of them, and intends to give a general outline of the steps to follow to try to end such a worrying problem at the global level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Conradi
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - J Emilio Sánchez-Moyano
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
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12
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Chiellini C, Mariotti L, Huarancca Reyes T, de Arruda EJ, Fonseca GG, Guglielminetti L. Remediation Capacity of Different Microalgae in Effluents Derived from the Cigarette Butt Cleaning Process. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11131770. [PMID: 35807722 PMCID: PMC9269138 DOI: 10.3390/plants11131770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Microalgal-based remediation is an ecofriendly and cost-effective system for wastewater treatment. This study evaluated the capacity of microalgae in the remediation of wastewater from cleaning process of smoked cigarette butts (CB). At laboratory scale, six strains (one from the family Scenedesmaceae, two Chlamydomonas debaryana and three Chlorella sorokiniana) were exposed to different CB wastewater dilutions to identify toxicity levels reflected in the alteration of microalgal physiological status and to determine the optimal conditions for an effective removal of contaminants. CB wastewater could impact on microalgal chlorophyll and carotenoid production in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the resistance and remediation capacity did not only depend on the microalgal strain, but also on the chemical characteristics of the organic pollutants. In detail, nicotine was the most resistant pollutant to removal by the microalgae tested and its low removal correlated with the inhibition of photosynthetic pigments affecting microalgal growth. Concerning the optimal conditions for an effective bioremediation, this study demonstrated that the Chlamydomonas strain named F2 showed the best removal capacity to organic pollutants at 5% CB wastewater (corresponding to 25 butts L−1 or 5 g CB L−1) maintaining its growth and photosynthetic pigments at control levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Chiellini
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.M.); (L.G.)
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, Italian National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mariotti
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.M.); (L.G.)
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali “E. Avanzi”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Thais Huarancca Reyes
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.M.); (L.G.)
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali “E. Avanzi”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
- Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil;
- Correspondence:
| | - Eduardo José de Arruda
- Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil;
| | - Gustavo Graciano Fonseca
- Faculty of Natural Resource Sciences, School of Business and Science, University of Akureyri, 600 Akureyri, Iceland;
| | - Lorenzo Guglielminetti
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.C.); (L.M.); (L.G.)
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali “E. Avanzi”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
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Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors about Cigarette-Butt Littering among College-Aged Adults in the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19138085. [PMID: 35805745 PMCID: PMC9265565 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This study reports attitudes, beliefs, and littering behaviors of 7532 college-aged cigarette smokers from across the United States. Four behavioral variables were measured: littering of last cigarette butt, number of butts littered in past 24 h, littering in past month, and ever having littered. Questions about beliefs centered on whether cigarette butts are biodegradable, if butts were harmful to the environment, and if butts are considered to be litter. One attitudinal question focused on whether seeing butts on the ground was bothersome. Littering was most likely among people who believed butts were biodegradable, believed they are not harmful to the environment, do not believe butts are litter, and among those with the attitude that littered butts are not bothersome. Logistic regression analyses found that the strongest influence on littering behavior was the attitude that seeing butts was bothersome. The second-strongest driver was the belief that butts are litter.
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14
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Green DS, Tongue ADW, Boots B. The ecological impacts of discarded cigarette butts. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 37:183-192. [PMID: 34690005 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cigarette butts, one of the most littered items globally, present a unique challenge to ecosystems due to their ubiquity, persistence, and potential for harm. Over 35 studies have examined the toxicity of cigarette butts in biota from aquatic and terrestrial habitats from microbes to mice, but many organisms and habitats have not been tested. Two-thirds of studies are on aquatic organisms, and lethal effects were common. Research on the impacts on terrestrial life is lagging behind. Cigarette butts can affect the growth, behaviour, and reproductive output of individual organisms in all three habitats, but research on wider effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is lacking. Here, we summarise the ecotoxicological concerns and identify important knowledge gaps for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK.
| | - Andrew D W Tongue
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
| | - Bas Boots
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
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15
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Cunningham EM, Mundye A, Kregting L, Dick JTA, Crump A, Riddell G, Arnott G. Animal contests and microplastics: evidence of disrupted behaviour in hermit crabs Pagurus bernhardus. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:211089. [PMID: 34659782 PMCID: PMC8511743 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous in global marine systems and may have negative impacts on a vast range of species. Recently, microplastics were shown to impair shell selection assessments in hermit crabs, an essential behaviour for their survival. Hermit crabs also engage in 'rapping' contests over shells, based on cognitive assessments of shell quality and opponent fighting ability and, hence, are a useful model species for examining the effects of microplastics on fitness-relevant behaviour in marine systems. Here, we investigated how a 5-day microplastic exposure (25 microplastics/litre) affected the dynamics and outcome of 120 staged hermit crab contests. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, we examined how microplastics (i.e. presence or absence) and contestant role (i.e. attacker or defender) affected various behavioural variables. Significantly higher raps per bout were needed to evict microplastic-treated defenders when attackers were pre-exposed to control conditions (i.e. no plastic). Also, significantly longer durations of rapping bouts were needed to evict control-treated defenders when attackers were pre-exposed to microplastics. We suggest that microplastics impaired defenders' ability to identify resource holding potential and also affected attackers' rapping strength and intensity during contests. These impacts on animal contests indicate that microplastics have broader deleterious effects on marine biota than currently recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eoghan M. Cunningham
- Queen's University Marine Laboratory, Queen's University Belfast, 12–13 The Strand, Portaferry BT22 1PF, Northern Ireland, UK
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Amy Mundye
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Louise Kregting
- Queen's University Marine Laboratory, Queen's University Belfast, 12–13 The Strand, Portaferry BT22 1PF, Northern Ireland, UK
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5BN, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jaimie T. A. Dick
- Queen's University Marine Laboratory, Queen's University Belfast, 12–13 The Strand, Portaferry BT22 1PF, Northern Ireland, UK
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Andrew Crump
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
- Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK
| | - Gillian Riddell
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Gareth Arnott
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
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