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A preliminary investigation of associated chemicals in cigarette butt waste from the tourist beach area of North Jakarta, Indonesia
Summary
Cigarette butts collected from a tourist beach in North Jakarta were found to contain a complex mixture of aliphatic and aromatic chemicals, despite the beach receiving regular cleaning. Because cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate — a persistent plastic-like material — this study highlights that cigarette butt litter is both a significant form of beach plastic pollution and a chemical contamination source in coastal environments.
Cigarette butts are among the most common and problematic forms of marine litter. However, there is limited research on the occurrence, abundance, and potential chemicals associated with cigarette butt waste in the environment. The study focused on investigating the occurrence, abundance, and chemical composition of cigarette butt waste on Ancol Beach, Jakarta, Indonesia, addressing a gap in knowledge regarding this prevalent and problematic form of marine litter. Despite Ancol Beach’s regular cleaning efforts, cigarette butt waste was still widespread with an abundance of 1.136 pcs/m 2 . However, this cigarette butt waste number is still less abundant compared to other regions. Chemical analysis of the cigarette butt waste revealed the presence of various chemical groups, notably aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding and mitigating the environmental repercussions of the chemicals associated with cigarette butt waste and microplastic particles on the coastal ecosystem. Further research is urged to delve deeper into the emerging chemical pollutants present in cigarette butt waste spread in the coastal environments.
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