Toxicity of cigarette butts, and their chemical components, to marine and freshwater fish

Abstract

BackgroundCigarette butts are the most common form of litter, as an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown away every year worldwide. Many chemical products are used during the course of growing tobacco and manufacturing cigarettes, the residues of which may be found in cigarettes prepared for consumption. Additionally, over 4000 chemicals may also be introduced to the environment via cigarette particulate matter (tar) and mainstream smoke.MethodsUsing US Environmental Protection Agency standard acute fish bioassays, cigarette butt-derived leachate was analysed for aquatic toxicity. Survival was the single endpoint and data were analysed using Comprehensive Environmental Toxicity Information System to identify the LC50 of cigarette butt leachate to fish.ResultsThe LC50 for leachate from smoked cigarette butts (smoked filter + tobacco) was approximately one cigarette butt/l for both the marine topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) and the freshwater fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Leachate from smoked cigarette filters (no tobacco), was less toxic, with LC50 values of 1.8 and 4.3 cigarette butts/l, respectively for both fish species. Unsmoked cigarette filters (no tobacco) were also found to be toxic, with LC50 values of 5.1 and 13.5 cigarette butts/l, respectively, for both fish species.ConclusionToxicity of cigarette butt leachate was found to increase from unsmoked cigarette filters (no tobacco) to smoked cigarette filters (no tobacco) to smoked cigarette butts (smoked filter + tobacco). This study represents the first in the literature to investigate and affirm the toxicity of cigarette butts to fish, and will assist in assessing the potential ecological risks of cigarette butts to the aquatic environment.

Incorporation of cigarette butts into nests reduces nest ectoparasite load in urban birds: new ingredients for an old recipe?

“…Analyses were performed using STATISTICA software. [23]. Neither the presence nor the amount of cellulose per nest differed between species (all p .…”

Emissões De Co2 E Geração De Resíduos Pelo Consumo De Cigarros No Brasil No Período 2006-2012

“…Portanto, um fumante gera mais resíduos que um não fumante. Ademais, em muitos casos a bituca não é disposta adequadamente, sendo simplesmente lançada diretamente no ambiente e carreada aos corpos d´água pelas águas pluviais e até mesmo sendo ingeridos pela fauna e por seres humanos (ASH, 2009;NOVOTNY et al, 2011;SLAUGHTER et al, 2011).…”

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“…Even though weight was recorded for a better comparison with other studies, this might be misleading since it underestimates the impact of lighter items. For example, smoked cigarette butts form toxic leachates once in contact with water, exhibiting an lethal concentration (LC50 -concentration of a substance in water that kills 50% of the test organisms) of only one cigarette butt per liter for some marine fish species (Slaughter et al 2011). Together with items of Rapid Consumption (Rapd), Smoking (Smo) related items comprised more than half of the coastal litter in the region.…”