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Caridi F, Sabbatini A, Birarda G, Costanzi E, De Giudici G, Galeazzi R, Medas D, Mobbili G, Ricciutelli M, Ruello ML, Vaccari L, Negri A. Cigarette butts, a threat for marine environments: Lessons from benthic foraminifera (Protista). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 162:105150. [PMID: 32992223 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in the world and their environmental impact is related to both persistence and potential toxic effects for chemical composition. The objective of this study was to assess the acute toxicity (LC50-48 h) of human-smoked cigarette butts leachate on 3 cultured genera of benthic foraminifera: the calcareous perforate Rosalina globularis, the calcareous imperforate Quinqueloculina spp., and the agglutinated Textularia agglutinans. The specimens were exposed to 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1 cigarette butts/L concentrations that prove to be acutely toxic to all taxa. Starting from 4 cigarette butts/L, both calcareous genera showed shell decalcification, and death of almost all the individuals, except for the more resistant agglutinated species. These results suggest the potential harmfulness of cigarette butts leachate related to pH reduction and release of toxic substances, in particular nicotine, which leads to physiology alteration and in many cases cellular death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caridi
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Anna Sabbatini
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Birarda
- Elettra - Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. S.S. 14 km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Elisa Costanzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Giovanni De Giudici
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, via Trentino 51, 09127, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Roberta Galeazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Daniela Medas
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato - Blocco A, S.S. 554 bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy.
| | - Giovanna Mobbili
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Massimo Ricciutelli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università di Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy.
| | - Maria Letizia Ruello
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Lisa Vaccari
- Elettra - Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. S.S. 14 km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Negri
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60122, Ancona, Italy.
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