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Comparing the Effects of Microplastics From Conventional Cigarette Butts and Heated Tobacco Device: The Role of UV ‐Induced Aging
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Cigarette butts, including those from newer heated tobacco devices, break down into tiny plastic particles (microplastics) that get released into the environment, and scientists wanted to know if sunlight exposure makes these particles more toxic over time. The good news: in lab tests on small organisms and human lung cells, neither fresh nor sun-aged microplastics from cigarette butts caused significant harm, though the aging process did break down nicotine and shrink particle size. While this is reassuring, the researchers note that toxicity likely varies by cigarette brand, so this shouldn't be taken as a green light for littering, cigarette but
ABSTRACT Despite the widespread presence of cigarette butts in the environment, the potential toxicological effects posed by microplastics (MPs) derived from them remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared the effects of MPs from conventional cigarette butts (cellulose acetate) and heated tobacco devices (cellulose acetate and polylactic acid film), the latter being under‐investigated. We also compared their effects before and after UV‐accelerated aging. The most notable change in chemical properties of MPs following UV aging was a significant reduction in nicotine content, which fell below detection limits, while elemental composition remained largely unchanged. The surface of particles remained unchanged, but the size of heated tobacco devices cellulose acetate MPs also fragmented to smaller sizes. The effects were evaluated using Daphnia magna (48 h immobilization; 1, 10, 100 mg L −1 ), Lemna minor (168 h growth inhibition; 100 mg L −1 ), protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila (24 h, 100 mg L −1 ) and in vitro cytotoxicity test model using A549 human lung cells (24 h, 100 mg L −1 ). Toxicity tests revealed no significant effects of all types of MPs on any of used test models. UV‐aging of MPs did not change the toxicological profile. Our findings showed that cigarette butt‐derived MPs represent a complex mixture of polymers, residual nicotine, and metals. Comparing this research to previous studies suggests that MPs from different cigarette brands vary in chemical composition and toxicological potential.
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Weathering Effects on Cellulose Acetate Microplastics from Discarded Cigarette Butts
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Cigarette filter fibers made from cellulose acetate — including newer heated tobacco product filters — fragment into microplastics during environmental weathering, shrinking in particle size after UV exposure. While thermal properties changed after aging, the chemical fingerprint (FTIR) remained largely the same, meaning the particles persist in nature. This matters because billions of cigarette butts are discarded each year, making them one of the most common sources of hard-to-degrade microplastic fibers in the environment.
Influence of Weathering on the Degradation of Cellulose Acetate Microplastics Obtained from Used Cigarette Butts
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Researchers compared how two types of cigarette filters — traditional ones and newer heated tobacco product filters — break down when exposed to simulated weathering conditions. They found that both release cellulose acetate microplastics into the environment, and the newer products also contain a polylactic acid film that adds another source of plastic pollution. The study suggests that despite marketing claims, newer tobacco products still contribute to environmental microplastic contamination through their discarded filters.
Solar light photodegradation of nicotine in the presence of aged polystyrene microplastics
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Researchers investigated whether aged polystyrene microplastics can facilitate the solar photodegradation of nicotine, a widespread emerging contaminant, using polystyrene as a model substrate. Results showed that UV-weathered microplastics acted as photosensitizers, accelerating nicotine degradation under sunlight and producing reactive species that enhanced the process.
UVB-aged microplastics and cellular damage : An in vitro study
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Researchers conducted in vitro experiments to assess whether UVB-aged microplastics cause greater cellular damage than unaged plastics, given that UV irradiation fragments and chemically alters plastic surfaces. The study found that UVB aging enhanced the capacity of microplastics to cause cellular toxicity.
UVB-Aged Microplastics and Cellular Damage: An in Vitro Study
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Researchers compared the cellular damage caused by UV-aged versus new microplastic particles using lab-grown human cells. They found that UV-aged microplastics caused significantly more DNA damage and oxidative stress than pristine particles, likely due to chemical changes on their surfaces during weathering. The findings suggest that environmentally weathered microplastics may pose greater health risks than freshly produced ones.
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