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Microplastics from cigarette filters: Comparative effects on selected terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates
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Researchers compared the effects of microplastics from smoked and unsmoked cigarette filters on both land and water invertebrates. Smoked filter microplastics were more toxic due to the added chemicals from tobacco smoke, causing reduced survival and reproduction in the test organisms. Since cigarette butts are one of the most littered items worldwide, this study shows they are a significant and underappreciated source of toxic microplastic pollution in the environment.
Cigarette filters comprise plasticised cellulose acetate, a synthetic polymer categorized as bioplastic. They represent a significant source of microplastics (MPs), in particular microfibers, and associated chemicals, yet their impact on organisms, especially soil invertebrates, is not well-studied. This research examines the effects of MPs milled from smoked (SCF-MPs) and unsmoked cigarette filters (UCF-MPs) on terrestrial invertebrates (Porcellio scaber, Tenebrio molitor) and aquatic invertebrates (Daphnia magna, Brachionus calyciflorus). SCF-MPs and UCF-MPs were found to be 9.06 ± 4.1 μm and 12.71 ± 6.82 μm in size, respectively. Both samples contained triacetin and potentially toxic metals, while SCF-MPs also contained nicotine and a larger number of trace organic compounds. While exposure to SCF-MPs or UCF-MPs (up to 1.5 % MPs, w/w in soil) did not affect the survival of either terrestrial invertebrate, several physiological responses were observed. These included changes in immune parameters, energy-related biomarker levels, and altered glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities. Both types of MPs were acutely toxic to aquatic invertebrates, reducing the survival rates of B. calyciflorus (10 mg L-1 of either particle after 48h exposure) and D. magna (100 mg L-1 of SCF-MPs after 48h exposure). SCF-MPs generally caused more pronounced effects than UCF-MPs. This study highlights the need for effective environmental management to address both smoked and unsmoked cigarette filters.
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Effects of microplastics from unsmoked and smoked cigarette filters on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates
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Researchers assessed the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics extracted from both unsmoked and smoked cigarette filters on aquatic invertebrates (rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, water flea Daphnia magna) and terrestrial invertebrates (woodlice Porcellio scaber, mealworm Tenebrio molitor) across a concentration range of 1-100 mg/L. The study found that smoked cigarette filter microplastics caused greater toxicity than those from unsmoked filters, likely due to the additional chemical contaminants deposited during smoking.
Effects of microplastics from unsmoked and smoked cigarette filters on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates
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Researchers exposed aquatic invertebrates (rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, water flea Daphnia magna) and terrestrial invertebrates (woodlice Porcellio scaber, mealworm Tenebrio molitor) to microplastics derived from both unsmoked and smoked cigarette filters at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 mg/L and assessed acute toxicity. The study found that cigarette butt-derived microplastics caused measurable adverse effects on multiple invertebrate species across both aquatic and terrestrial exposure routes.
Microplastics from cigarette filters: Comparative effects on selected terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates
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Researchers compared the effects of microplastics derived from cigarette filters on selected terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, examining differences in toxicity across species and environments in a study published in Environmental Pollution.
Effects of microplastics from cigarette filters on two aquatic species and in vitro human lung cells
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Researchers examined the effects of microplastics from cigarette filters on two aquatic species and conducted in vitro cell tests to assess human health risks. Cigarette filter microplastics caused toxicity in both aquatic organisms and human cells, underscoring the environmental and health hazards of this overlooked microplastic source.
Microplastics from cigarette filters: Comparative effects on selected terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates
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Researchers generated raw data comparing the effects of microplastics derived from cigarette filters on selected terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, supporting a published study in Environmental Pollution examining the comparative toxicity of cigarette filter-derived microplastics across different organism types.
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