Potential toxicity of contaminants leached from cigarette butts in coastal environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2022.02.10Keywords:
aquatic toxicology, risk assessment, marine litter, marine pollution, tobaccoAbstract
Cigarette butts (CB) are the most common litter on beaches worldwide and their incorrect disposal may lead to contamination by many toxic substances. Once in water, CB can release contaminants generated by the burning of cigarettes, which can have their toxic potential increased. Biocides, preservatives, and nitrogen compounds generated during tobacco cultivation and cigarette manufacturing are the most relevant compounds, while hydrocarbons and metals are generated and/or released from the burning of tobacco. A relevant issue is the lack of guidelines for CB management and benchmark values regarding these chemicals and additives for environmental quality purposes. The present study aimed to provide ecotoxicological information on the main contaminants present in CB leachates and its hazard was assessed in an Ecological Risk Assessment (ARE) context. Data on toxic effects for freshwater and marine organisms of substances reported to be leached from CB were obtained from the toxicity databases, and the hazard concentrations (HC10), a threshold for protecting 90% of the community, were determined based on the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method. The most toxic substances for freshwater environments were benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, acenaphthene and fluorene, Pb, and nicotine. For marine environments, the most toxic chemicals were benzo(a)pyrene, acenaphthene, fluorene and naphthalene, Cu, Pb, and Cd. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of knowledge about the contamination, toxicity, and ecological risks of CBs in coastal environments.
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