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Lian H, Zhu L, Li M, Feng S, Gao F, Zhang X, Zhang F, Xi Y, Xiang X. Emerging threat of marine microplastics: Cigarette butt contamination on Yellow Sea beaches and the potential toxicity risks to rotifer growth and reproduction. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 478:135534. [PMID: 39151359 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Cigarette butts have become one of the most common and persistent forms of debris in marine coastal areas, where they pose significant toxicity risks. This study investigated cigarette butt pollution along beaches of the Yellow Sea and used laboratory experiments to assess the toxicity of their leachate and fibers on the euryhaline rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. A pollution index confirmed pollution by this debris across all eight beaches surveyed, where the density of cigarette butts averaged 0.23 butts/m2. In controlled laboratory experiments, both the fibers and leachates from cigarette butts exhibited negative impacts on the development, reproduction, and population growth of rotifers. Unique abnormalities observed under different exposure treatments indicated toxicity specific to certain chemicals and particles. Continuous exposure to cigarette butts initially reduced rotifer fecundity, but this effect diminished over successive generations. However, the exposure induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in the rotifers. Adaptive responses in rotifers after repeated exposure led to relative reduction in reproductive inhibition in the F3 and F4 generations. Furthermore, rotifers were capable of ingesting and accumulating cigarette butts, and maternal transfer emerged as an alternative pathway for uptake of this material in the offspring. These results increase our understanding of the ecological risks posed by cigarette butts in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hairong Lian
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Lingyun Zhu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Meng Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Sen Feng
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Fan Gao
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China
| | - Yilong Xi
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Xianling Xiang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China.
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2
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Acarer Arat S. A review on cigarette butts: Environmental abundance, characterization, and toxic pollutants released into water from cigarette butts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172327. [PMID: 38626827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172327] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Every year, trillions of cigarette butts (CBs) are discarded into the environment. CBs are frequently found on beaches and in urban areas worldwide due to their high resistance to physical and biological degradation. Components of CBs, such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), cellulose acetate fibers (microplastics), nicotine, aromatic amines, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), are released into aquatic environments. Harmful components released into water from CBs cause both water pollution and toxic effects on different aquatic organisms. In the first part of this review, studies investigating the density of CBs in different environments were reviewed. In the second part, the results of studies investigating the characteristics of cigarette filters using characterization techniques were reviewed. Then, studies on heavy metals, PAHs, microplastics (microfibers), nicotine, aromatic amines and BTEX released into water from CBs were reviewed, and factors affecting the types, amounts and release conditions of compounds (pollutants) released into water from CBs were discussed. In the last section, taking into account the studies carried out to date, deficiencies in the research on pollutants released into water from CBs were identified and recommendations were made for future studies. This review highlights the environmental abundance of CBs, the characterization results of CB filters, and the release into water of some substances in CBs that are pollutants for the aquatic environment. This review may serve as a guide to elucidate the environmental abundance of CBs, the characteristics of CBs/filters, and the concentration in water of some pollutants released into water from CBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer Arat
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Avcılar 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
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3
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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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4
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Jokar Z, Banavi N, Taghizadehfard S, Hassani F, Solimani R, Azarpira N, Dehghani H, Dezhgahi A, Sanati AM, Farjadfard S, Ramavandi B. Marine litter along the shores of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30853. [PMID: 38765091 PMCID: PMC11101852 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30853] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic wastes -including cigarette butts (CBs)- are dangerous for marine ecosystems not only because they contain hazardous chemicals but also because they can finally turn into micro- or even nano-particles that may be ingested by micro- and macro-fauna. Even large pieces of plastics can trap animals. In this research, the pollution status of macroplastics (abundance, size, type, and colour) and cigarette butts (CBs, number/m2) on the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf has been investigated. A total of 19 stations were explored in Bushehr province (Iran), which covers a length equivalent to 160 km of the Persian Gulf coastline. Among the collected plastic waste (2992 items), disposable mugs were the most frequent (18 %). Plastics with sizes 5-15 cm were the most abundant, and the most common type of plastic was PET (P-value <0.05). The origin of most macroplastics was domestic (2269 items). According to the Index of Clean Coasts (ICC), most surveyed beaches were extremely dirty. The average number and density of CBs in this study were 220 and 2.45 items/m2, respectively. Household litter was the most abundant type of waste in the studied beaches, and this problem can be better managed by training and improving the waste disposal culture. In general, it is suggested that an integrated and enhanced management for fishing, sewage and surface water disposal, and sandy recreational beaches be implemented in Bushehr to control plastic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Jokar
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Banavi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Sara Taghizadehfard
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hassani
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Rezvan Solimani
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Nahid Azarpira
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Hanieh Dehghani
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Atefeh Dezhgahi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Sanati
- Department of Environmental Science, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sima Farjadfard
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Bahman Ramavandi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
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5
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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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6
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Pegado T, Andrades R, Noleto-Filho E, Franceschini S, Soares M, Chelazzi D, Russo T, Martellini T, Barone A, Cincinelli A, Giarrizzo T. Meso- and microplastic composition, distribution patterns and drivers: A snapshot of plastic pollution on Brazilian beaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167769. [PMID: 37879477 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167769] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Pollution by plastics is a worldwide problem on par with climatic change and biological invasions. In coastal sediments, plastic particles tend to accumulate and persist over the long term. We assessed the plastic pollution using a standardized surface sediment sampling protocol on 22 sandy beaches along >4600 km of the Brazilian coast. The abundance, size, color, type, and polymeric composition of all meso- and microplastic items found in the surveys were processed to disclose spatial patterns of distribution and pollution associated drivers. A General Linear Model (GLM) was run to investigate how the predictor variables influenced overall beach plastic amounts and by plastic type and size class. Overall, 3114 plastic items were found, with microplastics comprising just over half of all items (54 %). Most items were either white (60 %) or blue (13 %), while polystyrene foam (45 %) and fragments (39 %) comprised the most abundant plastic types. The principal polymers were Polyethylene (40 %) and Polypropylene (32 %). The analyses indicated that the distribution of plastic litter along beaches is determined by three predictive variables: the distance to the nearest estuary (-), tourism (+), and the number of inhabitants in the nearest urban center (+). Tourist (highly-visited) beaches and those near estuarine runoffs or urban centers presented the highest plastic pollution rates. The unveiling of plastic pollution patterns through a large-scale systematic survey is essential for future management guidance and science-based decisions for mitigating and solving the plastic pollution crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamyris Pegado
- Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia (NEAP), Universidade Federal do Pará, Avenida Perimetral 2651, Belém, Brasil.
| | - Ryan Andrades
- Laboratório de Ictiologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Goiabeiras, 29075-910 Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil
| | | | - Simone Franceschini
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, United States of America
| | - Marcelo Soares
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará 60165-081, Brasil; Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
| | - David Chelazzi
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Tania Martellini
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Angelica Barone
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Giarrizzo
- Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia (NEAP), Universidade Federal do Pará, Avenida Perimetral 2651, Belém, Brasil; Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará 60165-081, Brasil
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7
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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: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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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8
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Díaz-Mendoza C, Arias Ordiales P, Bustos ML, Cervantes O, Palacios-Moreno M, Vera San-Martin T, Kloc Lopes G, Vallejo M, Mouthon-Bello J, Gutiérrez L. Abundance and distribution of cigarette butts on the sand of five touristic beaches in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115306. [PMID: 37506493 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115306] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CB) and cigarette butt fibers (CBF) are highly abundant and frequent residues on beach sand. Also, they are hazardous waste due to their significant toxicity and potential risk to the ecosystems' biota and the health of beach tourists. This study aimed to determine the abundance and density of CB and CBF found on the active, rest, and service zones of five pilot beaches in Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico. The methodology involved collecting CB and CBF in 500 m2 transects of urban tourist beaches using a citizen science-adapted methodology between June 2021 and May 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The abundance and density of CB and CBF, and the Cigarette Butt Pollution Index (CBPI) were calculated. The highest proportion of CB was found in service and rest areas. Bocagrande (CO) reported the highest generation of CB and CBF and a severe CBPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Díaz-Mendoza
- Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia.
| | | | | | - Omar Cervantes
- Faculty of Oceanography of the Universidad de Colima campus Manzanillo, Mexico
| | | | | | - Gisela Kloc Lopes
- Faculty of Engineering of the Universidade Veiga de Almeida (UVA), Cabo Frio, Brazil
| | | | | | - Leonardo Gutiérrez
- Faculty of the Sea and Environment, Universidad Del Pacífico, Ecuador; Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium
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9
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Felipe da Silva N, Christina Barbosa de Araújo M, Santos Silva-Cavalcanti J. Spatio-temporal distribution of cigarette butt contamination in urban beaches with varying levels of use. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 168:179-188. [PMID: 37302176 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.05.035] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed the extent of cigarette butt contamination on two urban beaches in Recife-PE (Pernambuco State, Brazil) with varying levels of use. The study considered degradation levels and evaluated whether the brands varied by time, space, and beaches use. Ten transects (1.5 m wide) and spaced 10 m apart, were delimited on the beaches investigated. Twelve collections were made between May 2021 and January 2022, and the collected cigarette butts were evaluated based on degradation level, mass, size, and brand. In total, 10,275 cigarette butts were collected on both beaches, with P1 accounting for 96.91% of the found cigarette butts. The density of cigarette butts on the beaches was directly proportional to the level of use, with 8.85 butts/m2 in P1 and 1.05 butts/m2 in P2. Eighteen brands were identified, with brand (A) being the most popular regardless of the area. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found when evaluating the amount of butts/m2; Sundays with high precipitation presented reduced values of butts; more occupied areas presented transects with higher amounts; abundance in the summer; morphometry with higher values recorded in newly discarded butts; predominance of more degraded butts and brand diversity. Despite the difference in the number of butts/m2 between the areas, it was possible to identify that their abundance is very expressive, and that the monitored beaches present a high exposure to the contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacqueline Santos Silva-Cavalcanti
- Program in Biodiversity, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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10
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Grundlehner A, Diepens NJ, Linders T, Peeters ETHM, Koelmans AA. Towards continuous mass and size distributions for beach plastic litter: Spatiotemporal analyses of abundance and composition. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131984. [PMID: 37421860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Beaches are known as hotspots for the accumulation of plastic debris and are widely used for monitoring marine litter on a global scale. However, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding temporal trends in marine plastic pollution. Moreover, existing studies on beach plastics and popular monitoring protocols only provide count data. Consequently, it is not possible to monitor marine litter based on weights, which hampers the further application of beach plastic data. To address these gaps, we conducted an analysis of spatial and temporal trends in plastic abundance and composition using OSPAR beach litter monitoring data from 2001 to 2020. We established size and weight ranges for 75 (macro-)plastic categories to estimate the total plastic weight, enabling us to investigate plastic compositions. While the amount of plastic litter exhibits significant spatial variation, most individual beaches displayed notable temporal trends. The spatial variation in composition is primarily attributed to differences in total plastic abundance. We describe the compositions of beach plastics using generic probability density functions (PDFs) for item size and weight. Our trend analysis, method for estimating plastic weight from count data, and PDFs for beached plastic debris represent novel contributions to the field of plastic pollution science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Grundlehner
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Noël J Diepens
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Theo Linders
- Management, Nature & Landscape department, Central Government Real Estate Agency of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Postbus 16169, 2500 BD The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Edwin T H M Peeters
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Albert A Koelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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11
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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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12
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Moulana Z, Bagherzadeh M, Mirzakhani M, Rostami A, Mohammadnia-Afrouzi M, Shahbazi M. Increased Levels of serum Pentraxin 3 in Critical Coronavirus Disease-2019 Patients. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:85569-85573. [PMID: 34212320 PMCID: PMC8248285 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15183-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and ficolin are the plasma phase of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and can activate complement through classical and lectin pathways, respectively, which may contribute to disease severity. This study aimed to investigate the association between PTX3 and ficolin with disease severity in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Seventy-three COVID-19 patients and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The participants were divided into three groups as follows: 14 patients as the intensive care unit (ICU) group, 59 patients as the non-ICU group, and 25 subjects as the healthy control group. The serum levels of PTX3 and ficolin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Patients in ICU and non-ICU groups had significantly higher levels of PTX3 compared to the healthy control group (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0072, respectively). Patients in the ICU group also had an increased amount of PTX3 (1957 ± 1769 pg/ml) compared to non-ICU patients (1220 ± 1784 pg/ml). However, this difference was not significant. On the other hand, serum levels of ficolin were not different among the three groups. PTX3, as an acute phase protein, may contribute to disease severity. Its probable inflammatory role could result from the high activation of the complement system. On the other hand, it could be suggested that ficolin has no crucial role in the disease severity of COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Moulana
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mojgan Bagherzadeh
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mirzakhani
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Ali Rostami
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mousa Mohammadnia-Afrouzi
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Shahbazi
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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13
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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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14
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Ribeiro VV, Lopes TC, Amaral Dos Santos Pinto M, Póvoa AA, Corrêa VR, De-la-Torre GE, Dobaradaran S, Green DS, Szklo AS, Castro ÍB. Cigarette butts in two urban areas from Brazil: Links among environmental impacts, demography and market. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113730. [PMID: 35732200 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental impacts are currently linked to smoking cigarette behavior, as cigarette butts (CBs) represent the most common litter item in natural areas. Despite this, even the best ranked Brazilian cities, in terms of urban cleaning, have no information about urban littered CBs. Thus, CBs were monitored in Santos and Niterói cities, aiming to assess contamination, Cigarette Butt Pollution Index (CBPI) and the illegal market size. CBs were collected in 36 walkways considering different land usage types and urban density levels. The CBPI was calculated, and brands were used to identify the size of the illegal market. CBs contamination in Santos (0.25 CBs/m2) was three times higher than Niterói (0.08 CBs/m2) and their occurrence and distribution presented no relationship with land usage types and urban population densities levels. CBPI = 17.6 was severe and the highest so far reported. A total of 28 cigarette brands were found both studied cities. Further, illegal cigarette consumption in Santos and Niteroi was estimated, based on brands of collected CBs, at 25.2% and 36.8%, respectively. Such data may be valuable for implementation of logistic reverse actions seeking to environmentally sustainable and socially resilient cities. Cigarette consumption threatens human life and the environment, and tobacco companies should be accountable for the pollution they generate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alain Alves Póvoa
- Instituto de Geociências, Programa de Pós Graduação em Dinâmica Dos Oceanos e da Terra, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil
| | - Victor Rocha Corrêa
- Departamento de Ciências, Faculdade de Formação de Professores, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - 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; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen, Germany
| | - Dannielle Senga Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - André Salem Szklo
- Divisão de Pesquisa Populacional, Instituto Nacional Do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Grini H, Metallaoui S, González-Fernández D, Bensouilah M. First evidence of plastic pollution in beach sediments of the Skikda coast (northeast of Algeria). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 181:113831. [PMID: 35714545 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study is the first attempt to provide original data on plastics debris occurrence in beach sediments of the Gulf of Skikda in Algeria (southwestern Mediterranean). Sediment samples from seven beaches were collected to extract, quantify and characterize mesoplastics and microplastics. Particles were classified by size into mesoplastics (5-25 mm) and large microplastics (1-5 mm). Overall, microplastics were the most abundant size fraction in terms of number of items. The average mass of mesoplastics was twice that of microplastics, revealing a notable reservoir of plastics that is scarcely ever reported in the literature. The predominant types were fragments and pellets, white/transparent in color. The average concentrations of total plastic were 1067.19 ± 625.62 items/m2, 106.98 ± 62.39 items/kg, and 50.65 ± 9.82 g/m2, showing variability between beaches and within sampling sites. Thus, the Skikda coast has high levels of pollution compared to other areas of the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halima Grini
- Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of 20 août 1955-Skikda, Skikda, Algeria; Laboratory of Physico-Chemistry Research on Surfaces and Interfaces, University of 20 août 1955-Skikda, Skikda, Algeria.
| | - Sophia Metallaoui
- Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of 20 août 1955-Skikda, Skikda, Algeria; Research Laboratory on Interactions of Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Biotechnology, University of 20 août 1955-Skikda, Skikda, Algeria
| | - Daniel González-Fernández
- Department of Biology, University Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cádiz and European University of the Seas, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Mourad Bensouilah
- Eco-Biology Laboratory for Marine Environments and Costal Areas, Marine Sciences Department, University of Badji Mokhtar-Annaba, Annaba, Algeria
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16
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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: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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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17
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Rangel-Buitrago N, Williams AT, Neal WJ, Gracia C A, Micallef A. Litter in coastal and marine environments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 177:113546. [PMID: 35325794 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113546] [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: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Litter is one of the most pervasive and fastest-growing anthropogenic alterations of the World's coasts and oceans. Along with climate change, litter has been identified as one of humankind's most critical environmental problems that demand urgent solutions. Litter magnitudes and distribution, and the related detrimental environmental effects, have been documented in all existing coastal and marine environments (e.g., beaches, dunes, abyssal plains and submarine canyons, among others). Litter's presence is now so ubiquitous in the environment that it serves as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene. As part of the solution to this out-of-hand problem, Marine Pollution Bulletin has produced this Special Issue entitled "Litter in Coastal and Marine Environments". This collection of 37 papers provides a focal point for such related current studies and, in part, seeks to discuss implementing specific management strategies under different scenarios. No single solution exists to cope with the litter issue. However, legally binding global governance that will effectively limit and control the magnitude of litter pollution is greatly needed. The topical range of this collection of papers includes case studies focussing on litter types (mainly dominated by plastics), sources, impacts and solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programa de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia; Programa de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
| | - Allan T Williams
- Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of Wales: Trinity Saint David (Swansea), SA1 6ED, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - William J Neal
- Department of Geology, Grand Valley State University, The Seymour K. & Esther R. Padnos Hall of Science 213A, Allendale, MI, USA
| | - Adriana Gracia C
- Programa de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Anton Micallef
- Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics, Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
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18
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Farzadkia M, Salehi Sedeh M, Ghasemi A, Alinejad N, Samadi Kazemi M, Jafarzadeh N, Torkashvand J. Estimation of the heavy metals released from cigarette butts to beaches and urban environments. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 425:127969. [PMID: 34891016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CB) are considered as a commonly littered waste. This hazardous waste contains a variety of pollutants. This study was developed to estimate the release of some heavy metals from CBs to the environment in different climatic conditions in different scenarios. To this end, CBs samples were obtained through artificial smoking from 10 high-consumption brands in the Iranian market, and their samples in urban areas were taken and analyzed in terms of heavy metals pollution. The results showed that the average concentrations of Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Zinc, Copper, Nickel in the studied CBs were 1.71, 0.36, 1.59, 24.61, 12.83, and 2.66 µg/g, respectively. The long persistency of CBs in the environment leads to increased release of all heavy metals to 9.7%. In addition, the rainfall can accelerate the leaching of heavy metals to 17.7% compared to the control scenario. The total mean concentrations of the studied metals in the CBs samples collected from the urban areas in rainy and non-rainy conditions were measured to be 32.67-51.81 μg/g, respectively. According to the data obtained for the amount of each heavy metal releases in four scenarios, 147.5 kg/year and 57.3 kg/year heavy metals are released to the environment in the worst and the best-case scenarios. This study showed that CBs littering lead to the release of heavy metals into the environment; it is necessary to reduce the density of CBs in urban and public environments by training the smokers as well as increasing the efficiency of the urban cleaning system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Farzadkia
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Salehi Sedeh
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Ghasemi
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Malihe Samadi Kazemi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Bojnourd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran
| | - Naghmeh Jafarzadeh
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Torkashvand
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Robbe E, Woelfel J, Balčiūnas A, Schernewski G. An Impact Assessment of Beach Wrack and Litter on Beach Ecosystem Services to Support Coastal Management at the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 68:835-859. [PMID: 34505177 PMCID: PMC8578072 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-021-01533-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As accumulation zones, sandy beaches are temporal sinks for beach wrack and litter, both often seen as nuisances to tourists. Consequently, there is a need for beach management and an enhanced political interest to evaluate their ecosystem services. We applied a new online multidisciplinary assessment approach differentiating between the provision, potential, and flow at German and Lithuanian beaches (Southern Baltic Sea). We selected a set of services and assessed four beach scenarios developed accordingly to common management measures (different beach wrack and litter accumulations). We conducted comparative assessments involving 39 external experts using spread-sheets and workshops, an online survey as well as a combined data-based approach. Results indicated the relative importance of cultural (52.2%), regulating and maintenance (37.4%), and provisioning services (10.4%). Assessed impact scores showed that the removal of beach wrack is not favorable with regard to the overall ecosystem service provision. Contrarily, the removal of litter can increase the service flow significantly. When removing beach wrack, synergies between services should be used, i.e., use of biomass as material or further processing. However, trade-offs prevail between cultural services and the overall provision of beach ecosystem services (i.e., coastal protection and biodiversity). We recommend developing new and innovative beach cleaning techniques and procedures, i.e., different spatio-temporal patterns, e.g., mechanical vs. manually, daily vs. on-demand, whole beach width vs. patches. Our fast and easy-to-apply assessment approach can support decision-making processes within sustainable coastal management allowing us to show and compare the impacts of measures from a holistic ecosystem services perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Robbe
- Coastal and Marine Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany.
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania.
| | - Jana Woelfel
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Aquatic Ecology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Arūnas Balčiūnas
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania
| | - Gerald Schernewski
- Coastal and Marine Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania
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20
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Barría-Herrera J, Vergara-Cortés H, Contreras-López M, Rangel-Buitrago N. A seasonal comparison of litter impacts along the Viña del Mar - Concón coastal strip, Valparaiso region of Chile. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112854. [PMID: 34418713 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Vina del Mar - Concón Coastal strip is well known for its urban beaches, which play an essential role in the national economy. With extreme urban development, these beaches have become more polluted by litter. This paper evaluates the abundance, spatio-temporal distribution, typology, and sources of beach litter in 14 sectors located inside this coastal strip. A total of 19,886 litter items were collected and grouped into 50 different categories (11 litter typologies). Overall average litter abundance was 0.21 items/m2 while during the fall and winter averages were 0.25 items/m2 and 0.17 items/m2. Values changed along the area and between seasons. Plastics, cigarette butts and paper-cardboard typologies dominated the samples with 42% (0.088 items/m2), 25.4% (0.053 items/m2) and 20.8% (0.043 items/m2).
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Affiliation(s)
- José Barría-Herrera
- Escuela de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Hernán Vergara-Cortés
- Escuela de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Manuel Contreras-López
- Escuela de Ingeniería Civil Oceánica, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile; Programa Doctorado Interdisciplinario en Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Chile
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programas de Física - Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
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21
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Abude RRS, Augusto M, Cardoso RS, Cabrini TMB. Spatiotemporal variability of solid waste on sandy beaches with different access restrictions. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112743. [PMID: 34352534 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Intense human use and high construction density in coastal areas are stressors to sandy beaches. Pollution by marine debris is a major problem on beaches worldwide. This study pioneered an assessment of marine debris characterization over time on beaches with different levels of access. In two periods and seasons, marine debris was sampled on nine sandy beaches of Rio de Janeiro, grouped by levels of access. The general marine debris density has decreased over time, accompanied by an improvement in public cleaning mechanisms. The most important predictor for the majority of marine debris items is related to accessibility; beaches with restricted access showed a reduction in the abundance of most items. High marine debris densities, even on beaches with restricted access, showed that all evaluated beaches can be sinks for marine debris circulating in marine waters. Beach cleaning strategy improvements will be inefficient unless integrated marine debris management is implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane R S Abude
- Postgraduate Program in Oceanography, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã CEP: 20.550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Marine Ecology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Avenida Pasteur, 458, Urca CEP: 22.290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Matheus Augusto
- Laboratory of Marine Ecology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Avenida Pasteur, 458, Urca CEP: 22.290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo S Cardoso
- Laboratory of Marine Ecology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Avenida Pasteur, 458, Urca CEP: 22.290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana M B Cabrini
- Laboratory of Marine Ecology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Avenida Pasteur, 458, Urca CEP: 22.290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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22
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Abundance and Distribution of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Environments: Examples from Southern Spain. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse9020129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Litter on beaches is one of the most difficult problems in coastal management and every year, much efforts and public money are invested to try to alleviate and solve the problem. Cigarette butts (CB) are among the most widespread abandoned personal items in the world. In Spain, they are found on all types of beaches, where they are discarded by beach users; however, rivers and streams can also deposit CB on shores. This paper analyses the abundance of CB on different beaches in Southern Spain in order to address and better understand this relevant environmental problem and propose sound solutions to decrease or eliminate their presence. The main factors favouring CB accumulation were identified, namely the seasonality and number of beach users, beach typology (remote, rural, village or urban sites), type of beach sediment and methods and frequency of cleaning operations. Mean and median CB abundance values per 100 m of beach length, calculated from all the data used in this study, were 159 and 68 items, respectively. The largest number of CB were observed at urban sites, followed by village, rural and remote beaches. Further, sand beaches registered higher values of CB than cobble or pebble beaches.
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Rangel-Buitrago N, Barría-Herrera J, Vergara-Cortés H, Contreras-López M, Agredano R. A snapshot of the litter problem along the Viña del Mar - Concón coastal strip, Valparaíso region, Chile. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111524. [PMID: 32795673 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Along the Viña del Mar - Concón coastal strip 11,894 litter items were collected, and grouped into 48 different categories (11 litter typologies). The average litter abundance was 0.25 items/m2, plastic items, and cigarette butts being the most common. Hazardous litter can be found along the entire study area, reaching 28.9% (3438 items of 11,894 total items collected distributed in 14 different categories), and an average of 0.071 items/m2. The application of environmental evaluation indices based on litter data, allows categorizing the study area as a clean-moderate coastal strip with some presence of hazardous litter items, and unsatisfactory environmental conditions. Studied sectors were statistically grouped into three specific types that ranged from sectors in optimal environmental conditions (Group A) to sectors in adverse environmental conditions (Group C). The typology and magnitudes of litter found along the study area suggest a combination of sources that mainly include direct activities on the beach (recreational and smoking-related) as well dumping. In the same way, sanitary waste, ocean/waterway items, and items related to surfing activities were observed. Strategies for litter management and environmental quality improvement need to be developed and enforced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programas de Física - Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
| | - José Barría-Herrera
- Escuela de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Hernán Vergara-Cortés
- Escuela de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Manuel Contreras-López
- Programa Doctorado Interdisciplinario en Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Playa Ancha & Escuela de Ingeniería Civil Oceánica, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Roberto Agredano
- Departamento de Obras Civiles, Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
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Trash Dance: Anthropogenic Litter and Organic Matter Co-Accumulate on Urban Beaches. GEOSCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences10090335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic litter (i.e., trash, AL) on beaches has negative ecological and economic impacts. Beach AL is likely moved together with coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM, algae, leaves), but no previous studies have assessed AL and CPOM co-distribution. We measured AL and CPOM on four urban beaches in Chicago, Illinois, USA, along two transect types (pier-adjacent, non-pier adjacent) in which each has three habitats (upland, beach, strand line). As expected, AL and CPOM density were positively related across all transects. AL and CPOM were significantly higher adjacent to piers, and variable among habitats. Wood, leaves, and smoking-related AL were most abundant in beach and upland zones while glass and algal detritus were abundant at the strandline. Overall, AL and CPOM show ‘patchy’ distribution attributed to wind and wave movement toward accumulation sites. Beach CPOM is a hot spot of biological activity (e.g., microbes, invertebrates, birds). Therefore, mixing of AL and CPOM suggests organisms may be more likely to encounter AL in mixed accumulations. Efforts to reduce the abundance and biological impacts of beach AL will benefit from emphasizing organic matter accumulation sites.
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