1
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Mohammadi H, Zardosht Z, Moein H, Hassani G. The effect of climatic variables and techno-structural factors on the water pollution caused by nicotine leakage from littered cigarette butts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34049-4. [PMID: 38907063 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34049-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Nicotine is one of the main pollutants in cigarette smoke that trapped in the filter. Nicotine leakage from cigarette butts is one of the concerns associated with this hazardous waste. In this study, the concentration of nicotine leaked from cigarette butts into the urban environment was investigated under the influence of three parameters including rainfall, density, and the durability of the littered cigarette butt. The leakage of nicotine into the environment was estimated in six scenarios based on the difference in the durability of cigarette butts in the urban environment and the humidity ratio. The results showed that the density of littered cigarette butts was 0.0019-0.294 number/m2. The density of littered cigarette butts in residential land-use was 52.38% lower than commercial land-use. Nicotine leakage from cigarette butts in commercial, residential, and recreational land-uses was 1.1, 0.484, and .0065 mg/m2, respectively. In the studied scenarios, in the best and worst case, 335,070 and 481,950 gr/year of nicotine will leak from the cigarette butt into the water resources. Considering that cigarette butts are a serious source of toxins including nicotine to the environment, control measures are necessary to reduce its density in the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran
| | - Zahra Zardosht
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Hossein Moein
- Department of Environmental Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Ghasem Hassani
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
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2
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Morovati M, Parsa S, Panahande M, Hossaini Motlagh A, Parseh I. Study of the impact of structural factors and cleaning efficiency in reducing hazardous litter density and its related pollution in urban environment. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13934. [PMID: 38886518 PMCID: PMC11183163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64645-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cigarette filter is the most common hazardous litter that contains many pollutants including PAHs. The durability of this litter in the urban environment has an important effect on the rate of pollutant leakage. In this study, the leakage rate of PAHs from the littered cigarette filters was estimated by considering the affecting parameters on their durability in the urban environment. The results showed that the density of littered cigarette filters in the studied locations was 0.00048-0.13563 g/m2. The maximum spatial variation of the littered cigarette filter was 225 times. The average leakage of the total studied PAHs was estimated to be 2.048 µg/10 m2. The impact of structural factors and efficiency of urban cleaning in the estimated leakage was at most 2.4 times. It is necessary to change the behavior of citizens in littering the cigarette filter, considering its durability in the urban environment, to reduce the environmental and health consequences caused by the leakage of PAHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Morovati
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran
| | - Sheida Parsa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, California State University, Northridge, USA
| | - Maryam Panahande
- Environmental Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Rasht, Iran.
| | - Amin Hossaini Motlagh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
| | - Iman Parseh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
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3
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Faisal M, You ZJ, Buttar NA, Idrees MB, Naeem M, Ali S, Ali B, Hashem A, Abd_Allah EF. Assessing Metal Exposure and Leaching from Discarded Cigarette Butts: Environmental Analysis and Integrated Waste Management Approaches. TOXICS 2024; 12:324. [PMID: 38787103 PMCID: PMC11125821 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Cigarette butts, often discarded as litter, are considered a common form of waste, containing a variety of pollutants within this hazardous residue. This study, which was designed to assess the environmental release of certain metals from cigarette butts, investigates a variety of scenarios under varying climatic conditions. Thus, in order to assess the level of metal contamination, samples of cigarette butts were collected in urban areas from seven popular brands in China, smoked artificially, and examined through graphite furnace atomic absorption (GF-AAS). The findings indicated mean concentrations of 1.77 for Cr, 2.88 for Ni, 12.93 for Cu, 24.25 for Zn, and 1.77 µg/g for Pb in the case of newly smoked butts. The emission of each of the metals increases to 8-10% when cigarette butts remain in the environment for an extended period of time. Furthermore, rainfall can accelerate metal leaching, reaching values of 18-20% compared to the controlled scenario. The worst-case scenario releases 2129.31 kg/year of metals into the environment, while the best-case scenario sees a lower release of 844.97 kg/year. The data reflect variations in metal emissions across different scenarios. There was also a strong correlation between cigarette butts in public spaces and cities. This research highlights the need to educate smokers and increase urban maintenance efficiency to reduce this litter and the metals it leaches into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Faisal
- Centre for Ports and Maritime Safety, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China;
| | - Zai-Jin You
- Centre for Ports and Maritime Safety, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China;
| | - Noman Ali Buttar
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Bilal Idrees
- Faculty of Infrastructure Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
| | - Muhammad Naeem
- Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Shoaib Ali
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518005, China;
| | - Basharat Ali
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan;
| | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
- Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
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4
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Ghasemi M, Feyzi Kamareh T, Morovati M, Kazembeigi F, Alinejad N, Moein H, Hassani G. The fate of leaked heavy metals in the urban environment under different persistence and precipitation scenarios. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8343. [PMID: 38594514 PMCID: PMC11004182 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59057-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Ghasemi
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Touran Feyzi Kamareh
- Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Maryam Morovati
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran
| | - Farogh Kazembeigi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Hossein Moein
- Department of Environmental Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
| | - Ghasem Hassani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
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5
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Farzadkia M, Yavary Nia M, Yavari Nia M, Shacheri F, Nourali Z, Torkashvand J. Reduction of the environmental and health consequences of cigarette butt recycling by removal of toxic and carcinogenic compounds from its leachate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:23942-23950. [PMID: 38436848 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32703-5] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Cigarette butt is a hazardous waste, and its management faces many challenges. The generation of leachate containing many pollutants including heavy metals is one of the limitations of recycling cigarette butts. The aim of this study was to reduce organic compounds and heavy metals in leachate resulting from cigarette butt recycling in an electrocoagulation reactor. For this purpose, two samples, including freshly smoked cigarette butts and littered cigarette butts, were processed and the treatment of leachate resulting from them was studied in an electrocoagulation reactor. The efficiency of leachate treatment was investigated in the treatment time of 10-40 min and current intensity of 20-100 mA. The results showed that the minimum reduction of chemical oxygen demand and turbidity was 25.3% and 33.4%, respectively. Increasing the current intensity and treatment time increased the efficiency of removing turbidity and chemical oxygen demand up to 47.1% and 41.2%, respectively, in optimum conditions. The reduction of nickel, chromium, cadmium, and lead in the lowest current density and minimum treatment time was more than 90%, which increased to more than 99% with the increase of the current density and treatment time. The use of electrocoagulation is a suitable solution to reduce heavy metals in leachate resulting from cigarette butt recycling, while the proper reduction of organic compounds in this type of leachate requires further treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Farzadkia
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Yavary Nia
- Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Melika Yavari Nia
- Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fatemeh Shacheri
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Zahra Nourali
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Javad Torkashvand
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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6
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Valizadeh B, Abdoli MA, Dobaradaran S, Mahmoudkhani R, Asl YA. Risk control of heavy metal in waste incinerator ash by available solidification scenarios in cement production based on waste flow analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6252. [PMID: 38491026 PMCID: PMC10943089 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56551-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Incineration is a common method in municipal solid waste management, which has several advantages such as reducing the volume of waste, but with concerns about exhaust gas and ash management. In this study, heavy metals in bottom ash, secondary furnace ash and fly ash of two waste incinerators in Tehran and Nowshahr were analyzed and its control in cement production was investigated. For this purpose, twelve monthly samples of three types of incinerator ash were analyzed. By combining the studied ashes in the raw materials, the quantity of metals in the cement was analyzed. Finally, by investigating four scenarios based on quantitative variations in the routes of municipal solid waste, ash quantity and the related risk caused by its heavy metals were studied. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in the three ash samples of the studied incinerators was 19,513-23,972 µg/g and the composition of the metals included Hg (less than 0.01%), Pb (2.93%), Cd (0.59%), Cu (21.51%), Zn (58.7%), As (less than 0.01%), Cr (15.88%), and Ni (0.91%). The best quality of produced cement included 20% ash and 10% zeolite, which was the basis of the next calculations. It was estimated that the reduction of the release of metals into the environment includes 37 gr/day in best scenario equal to 10.6 tons/year. Ash solidification can be considered as a complementary solution in waste incinerator management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Valizadeh
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Abdoli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Rouhalla Mahmoudkhani
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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7
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Delavari Heravi M, Haddadi M, Karami Nejad F, Izadi Yazdanabadi Z, Haghighat GA. A comparative study of indexes used for litter pollution assessment in urban and public environments. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24954. [PMID: 38317978 PMCID: PMC10838791 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Litter is a common pollution in the urban environment and public places such as beaches, which has serious health and economic consequences. Several indexes are used to interpret the pollution status caused by litter, which have different limitations and strengths. In this review, the efficiency and characteristics of different indexes were compared. For this purpose, related articles were searched in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Knowledge, and after screening, 21 articles were selected. The main questions of this study included factors affecting the interpretation of pollution in different indexes and the criteria considered in each index. The results showed that the existing indexes based on the type of litter include two categories of comprehensive indexes such as Clean Environment Index and specific indexes such as Cigarette Butt Pollution Index. Also, the index can be divided into two categories in terms of spatial application, including general indexes such as Environmental Status and specific indexes such as Clean Coast Index. An important difference in the indexes is the importance of the impact of the pollution potential of different litter in the assessment of the status in indexes such as Clean Environment Index and Environmental Status, while indexes such as Clean Coast Index evaluate the status based only on the density of litter. According to the capabilities of each of the indexes, it is necessary to pay attention to the local needs as well as the characteristics of each index in using in urban management plans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahdieh Haddadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Karami Nejad
- Environmental Health Engineering Expert, Boyer Ahmad City Health Center , Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | | | - Gholam Ali Haghighat
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
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8
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Hossaini Motlagh A, Alinejad N, Kazembeigi F, Torkashvand J, Tashauoei HR, Fattahi M. Quality variations of leachate resulting from cigarette filter recycling as a challenge for its management. Sci Rep 2024; 14:972. [PMID: 38200131 PMCID: PMC10781975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Hossaini Motlagh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Farogh Kazembeigi
- Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Javad Torkashvand
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Tashauoei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health and Biomedical Engineering, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Fattahi
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam.
- School of Engineering & Technology, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam.
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9
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Vanapalli KR, Sharma HB, Anand S, Ranjan VP, Singh H, Dubey BK, Mohanty B. Cigarettes butt littering: The story of the world's most littered item from the perspective of pollution, remedial actions, and policy measures. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 453:131387. [PMID: 37080035 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cigarettes butt (CB) is one of the most littered items on the planet. This paper critically analyzes the factors responsible for CB littering, and associated environmental ramifications, and reviews all the possible technical, behavioural, and policy-based solutions. Even while smoking has declined globally, middle-income nations have seen an increase in consumption, which may be related to increased affordability and a lack of public awareness. The smokers' individual beliefs and habits, environmental ignorance, covert littering as a result of social taboos associated with smoking, and behavioural gaps between intention and action might all be contributing factors to CBs' littering behaviour. The low biodegradability of cellulose acetate filters and toxic chemical leaching from CBs are the most important aspects of CB environmental toxicity. The small size and low economic value of CB contribute to the inefficiencies of current waste collection and management systems. The current research on CB valorisation includes fired-clay bricks, asphalt concrete, biofilms, sound absorber, cellulose pulp, pesticides, and insecticides as downstream mitigation strategies. This study highlights the urgent need for policymakers to enforce regulations enabling innovative cigarette designs, the creation of deposit-refund schemes, extended producer responsibility and stringent waste collection mechanisms. Adopting gentler marketing strategies and non-confrontational behavioural nudges could result in an overall reduction in CB pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Raja Vanapalli
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Mizoram, Aizawl, Mizoram 796012, India; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Hari Bhakta Sharma
- Department of Civil Engineering, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Rangpo, Sikkim 737136, India; Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.
| | - Shaivya Anand
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Ved Prakash Ranjan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Hemant Singh
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Brajesh K Dubey
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India; Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.
| | - Bijayananda Mohanty
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Mizoram, Aizawl, Mizoram 796012, India
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10
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Darabi K, Hayati R, Morovati M, Alinejad N, Hassani G. Impact of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown on the urban litter and clean environment index. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9099. [PMID: 37277411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35554-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Changing the level of pollution in the urban environment is one of the consequences of Covid-19. Litter are one of the most important urban pollutants affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this research, the pollution level of urban areas during the Covid-19 pandemic was investigated by studying the urban environment. To this end, the protocol of observation and counting was used and litter were studied in two groups including common litter and Covid-19 related litter in Yasuj, Iran. The results were interpreted based on the clean environment index (CEI). The time of observation was selected based on the peak of the disease and the decline in the incidence rate. The results showed that on average, at the peak of the disease, the density of the litter was reduced by 19% compared to the low lockdown related to Covid-19. The CEI on average was 4.76 at the peak of the disease that was interpreted in the clean status, while the CEI on average was 5.94 at the low lockdown related to Covid-19 so interpreted in the moderate status. Among urban land uses, recreational areas with a difference of more than 60% showed the greatest impact caused by Covid-19, while in commercial areas this difference was less than 3%. The effect of Covid-19 related litter on the calculated index was 73% in the worst case and 0.8% in the lowest case. Although Covid-19 decreased the number of litter in urban areas, the emergence of Covid-19 lockdown related litter was a cause for concern and led to increasing the CEI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Darabi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ramin Hayati
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Maryam Morovati
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Ghasem Hassani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
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11
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Fadili HE, Ali MB, Mahi ME, Khatib N, Lotfi EM, Labjar N, Ibn-ElHaj S, Khabbazi A. Determination of properties and environmental impact due to the inclusion of cigarette fibers in mortar: a new solution to mitigate the CB pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:58346-58361. [PMID: 36977883 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26491-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts generated are one of the major sources of total solid waste production and lead to environmental issues. This article has the objective of evaluating the effects of cellulose acetate microfibers (CAFs) sourced from discarded cigarette filters (CFs) as fiber reinforcement on the physico-mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of cementitious materials. To do so, mortar samples were prepared using different incorporated quantities of fibers (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 5% compared to the quantity of sand added to the mixture) and subjected to different tests to characterize the influence of CAFs on the microstructure of elaborated materials, considering the changes in workability time, compressive strength, flexural strength, density, water absorption, and microstructural analysis. Furthermore, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of mortar mixes in terms of CO2 emissions is made. The results revealed that the increasing percentages of CAFs reduced the dry density and compressive strength, by approximately 1.62-51% and 37-69.64%, respectively, and a notable enhancement of insulation characteristics by about 5-47.5% was achieved. Microstructure analysis confirmed the experimental investigation and revealed that adding more than 1% of fibers resulted in a significantly low unit weight with greater entrapped air content. The studies prove the possibility of recycling cigarette butts for insulating cementitious matrix. In addition, applying mortar containing acetate cellulose fibers is recognized as a more environmentally friendly mixture in terms of reducing CO2 emissions and could participate significantly in the achievement of SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza El Fadili
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.
| | - Mohammed Ben Ali
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed El Mahi
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Nabil Khatib
- Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Metrology and Information Processing, Ibn Zohr University, B.P. 8106, Agadir, Morocco
| | - El Mostapha Lotfi
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Najoua Labjar
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Sara Ibn-ElHaj
- EMDD_CERNE2D, Mohammed V University in Rabat, EST Salé, 227 Avenue Prince Héritier, Salé, Morocco
| | - Abdelhamid Khabbazi
- EMDD_CERNE2D, Mohammed V University in Rabat, EST Salé, 227 Avenue Prince Héritier, Salé, Morocco
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12
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Spatial and temporal variation of CBPI and leakage of heavy metals from cigarette butts into the urban environment. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1424. [PMID: 36697425 PMCID: PMC9876916 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28340-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 5 trillion cigarettes are produced in the world every year. This hazardous waste is one of the most important litter in the environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the density and dispersion of cigarette butts in the urban environment and to estimate the leakage of pollution from it to the environment. For this purpose, the cigarette butt pollution index was used in 14 locations. Observations were made during a year and once a month for each location. The study of the locations was done with the same conditions on weekend and working days. The amount of heavy metal leakage was estimated based on the average weight of cigarette butts and the ratio of metal leakage in different weather conditions. The results showed that the annual average of index for the studied locations was 1.36 (SD 0.11) to 10.6 (SD 1.23). Based on this, 28.5% of the locations were in the low pollution status and 42.8% were in the significant pollution status and worse. On average, the index on weekend decreased by 32.3 percent in all locations, and the average index of the studied locations in spring and summer was 26.2 percent higher than in autumn and winter. The average leakage of heavy metals including chromium, cadmium, zinc, lead, copper, and nickel from littered cigarette butts in commercial, residential, and recreational areas was estimated to be 0.27, 0.079, and 0.17 µg per square meter, respectively. Cigarette butt is one of the most abundant litter in the studied area, which is the source of many pollutants, including heavy metals. This hazardous waste is a serious threat to the urban environment.
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13
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Preparation of a cellulose acetate membrane using cigarette butt recycling and investigation of its efficiency in removing heavy metals from aqueous solution. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20336. [PMID: 36434119 PMCID: PMC9700679 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24432-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the recycling of freshly-smoked cigarette butts (FCBs) and unsmoked cigarette filters (UCFs) into a cellulose acetate (CA) membrane. The both samples were prepared by means of a combination of seven cigarette brands, and the phase inversion method was used to recycle each sample into a membrane using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The efficiency of the prepared membranes for the removal of chromium, cadmium, and lead from an aqueous solution in a forward osmosis reactor was investigated. The results showed that the both membranes had a smooth surface and macrovoids. The flux of the prepared membranes from the UCFs and FCBs recycling were 14.8 and 13.2 LMH, respectively. The porosity and reverse salt of the UCFs membrane were 61% and 3.5 gMH, while those for FCBs membrane were 58% and 3.9 gMH. The observed metal removal efficiency of the both membranes was in the range of 85 to 90%. However, increasing the concentration of metals up to five times caused a slight decrease in the removal efficiency (less than 5%).
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14
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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: 1.0] [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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15
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Araújo MCB, Costa MF, Silva-Cavalcanti JS, Duarte AC, Reis V, Rocha-Santos TA, da Costa JP, Girão V. Different faces of cigarette butts, the most abundant beach litter worldwide. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:48926-48936. [PMID: 35199273 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19134-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CBs) are non-biodegradable residues of synthetic origin, prevalent on beaches all over the world. The study evaluates discarded CBs on an intensely used urban beach, determining variations in physical and chemical characteristics. CBs collected were observed, classified, and visually separated according to a proposed scale of four levels of degradation to test the potential match between physical and chemical decay. CBs (un-smoked, smoked, and discarded) were used to determine the average length (cm) and mass (g) in order to observe changes in these parameters among the levels. Cigarette butts experience consecutive mass loss during environmental exposure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were obtained to assess physical changes in fibers due to smoking. FTIR-ATR was used to assess CBs new (un-smoked), smoked, and discarded samples in relation to cellulose acetate decay. The FTIR-ATR spectroscopy of the most visually degraded cigarette butts indicated modifications in the spectra when compared to un-smoked cigarettes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Christina B Araújo
- Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
| | - Monica F Costa
- Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Armando C Duarte
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Reis
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | | | - Violeta Girão
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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16
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Kakoria A, Sinha-Ray S. Ultrafine nanofiber-based high efficiency air filter from waste cigarette butts. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Ghasemi A, Golbini Mofrad MM, Parseh I, Hassani G, Mohammadi H, Hayati R, Alinejad N. Cigarette butts as a super challenge in solid waste management: a review of current knowledge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:51269-51280. [PMID: 35612701 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20893-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Filtered cigarette is the most common type of tobacco used and cigarette butt is the most important environmental consequence of smoking. This study aimed to investigate the cigarette butt management and identify future needs to improve the current situation. The results showed that cigarette butts are the most abundant and widespread hazardous waste in the world. The current form of cigarette butt management has inferior performance that faced waste management systems with serious challenges. The results showed that reducing the littering rate and recycling are known as basic strategies in the management of this hazardous waste. Future studies should focus on reducing cigarette butt pollution and the amount of pollutant leakage from them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsaneh Ghasemi
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Golbini Mofrad
- Environmental Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial of Non-Communicable Disease Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Iman Parseh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
| | - Ghassem Hassani
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | | | - Ramin Hayati
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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18
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Abstract
Two massive wastes are cigarette butts (CB) and stone wool (SW), both representing a threat to the environment. Although the cellulose acetate filters (CAF) in CB are long-term degradable, SW soilless substrates are not. Here, a soilless substrate for growing ornamental plants was manufactured with CAF and compared to commercial SW substrate. CB treatment consisted of a washing in boiling water with a dramatic reduction of pollutants in CAF. Then, cleaned filters were separated, dried, carded to fibers, and subsequently compacted into plugs. The trace pollutants in recycled CAF substrate did not negatively affect the germination of Spartium junceum L. and Lavandula angustifolia Miller seeds as well as the root development of Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia rosmarinus Schleid. stem cuttings. Plants grown in recycled CAF showed a differential species-dependent change of pigments in comparison with those in SW, without compromising their photosynthesis performance. Overall, the results demonstrated that these plants can be well established and grow in recycled CAF, as comparable to SW substrate. This study highlights a novel and promising solution in CAF recycling by turning this litter into an efficient soilless substrate for growing ornamental plants, thus limiting the use of SW and indirectly decreasing its industrial waste flow.
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Hayati R, Ghasemi A, Hassani G, Norozi D, Mohammadi H, Alinejad N, Shahkarami N. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on coastal environment: positive or negative? A 1-year study on litter in Caspian coasts. ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES 2022; 15:1623. [PMCID: PMC9579681 DOI: 10.1007/s12517-022-10886-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Litter is one of the major environmental problems. These wastes cause adverse health, environmental, and even economic effects. One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is the impact on litter composition and density due to its changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns. In this study, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the composition and density of litter on the ten southern beaches of the Caspian Sea in Iran in 1 year was investigated. The results showed that the density of the litters was in the range of 36.5–306 items/m2. The highest and lowest proportions of the COVID-related litters on the locations studied were 2.54 and 5.95%, respectively. The indexes in the areas studied showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the density of the litter in 90% of the beaches studied by changing the style of citizens, but the emergence of new dumping related to COVID-19 has increased the potential for health and environmental hazards caused by litters. The effects of the COVID-related litters increased the clean environment index by 5 to 12% on the beaches. This study shows that the impact of social phenomena such as a pandemic on litter and its results can be used for the better management of municipal solid wastes, including litter in similar situations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Hayati
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Ghasemi
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Ghasem Hassani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Diba Norozi
- Department of Health Services Management, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Negar Shahkarami
- Instructor of Operation Room, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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