We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to “Smoke on the beach”: on the use of economic vs behavioral policies to reduce environmental pollution by cigarette littering
ClearCigarette butt pollution in popular beaches of Morocco: Abundance, distribution, and mitigation measures
This study surveyed cigarette butt pollution on eleven Moroccan Mediterranean beaches from 2018 to 2023, finding cigarette butts were the most common type of litter. Pollution levels varied by beach type, season, and visitor density, highlighting the need for targeted local action against this major source of plastic waste.
Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors about Cigarette-Butt Littering among College-Aged Adults in the United States
Researchers surveyed over 7,500 college-aged smokers across the United States and found that cigarette butt littering was most common among those who did not believe butts were harmful or considered litter, suggesting targeted education about butt toxicity and microplastic content could reduce this significant pollution source.
Spatio-temporal distribution of cigarette butt contamination in urban beaches with varying levels of use.
Researchers assessed cigarette butt contamination on two urban beaches in Recife, Brazil over nine months, finding that contamination levels correlated with beach use intensity, with butts at varying degradation stages, and that brand composition varied temporally and spatially across sampling events.
Abundance and Distribution of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Environments: Examples from Southern Spain
This study surveyed cigarette butt (CB) abundance on beaches across southern Spain, finding a mean of 159 and median of 68 CBs per 100 meters of beach length. Urban beaches and sand beaches accumulated the most butts, with beach visitor numbers and cleaning frequency as the main controlling factors.
Smokers’ behaviour and the toxicity of cigarette filters to aquatic life: a multidisciplinary study
Researchers combined behavioral observation of 597 smokers with ecotoxicity tests on cigarette filters, finding that younger smokers and those in groups were more likely to litter, and that cigarette filter fibers — made from semisynthetic plastics — are highly toxic to freshwater insect larvae even at very low concentrations. Sediment exposure was especially harmful, causing over 20% higher larval mortality and severely stunted growth and development.
Monitoring marine litter on Funchal beaches (Madeira Island): Insights for litter management
Researchers monitored beach litter on Madeira Island over two years and found cigarette butts and plastic items made up over 60% of debris, most of it originating on land, and used these findings to recommend targeted local interventions like awareness campaigns and restrictions on single-use plastics.
Smokers’ Attitude and Behavior towards Cigarette Littering in Romania: A Survey-Based Approach
A survey-based study analyzed smokers' attitudes and behaviors toward cigarette butt littering in Romania, finding that despite awareness of the problem, littering behavior remains widespread. The study identifies psychological factors and social norms that sustain cigarette butt littering and suggests targeted behavioral interventions.
Different faces of cigarette butts, the most abundant beach litter worldwide.
Cigarette butts collected from an urban beach were characterized at different stages of physical and chemical degradation, revealing they shed cellulose acetate microplastic fibers and leach toxic chemicals as they break down. As the most abundant beach litter worldwide, cigarette butts represent a significant but often overlooked source of plastic fibers and chemical contamination in marine environments.
The effects of environmental information provision on plastic bag use and marine environment status in the context of the environmental levy in Greece
Researchers surveyed Greek citizens on plastic bag use and marine conservation attitudes, finding that an environmental levy on plastic bags reinforced pre-existing environmentally friendly behavior and that willingness-to-pay for marine conservation reflected both individual and collective responsibility, supporting combined economic and informational policy interventions.
Modelling the global economic costs of tobacco product waste
Researchers modeled the global economic costs of improper tobacco product waste disposal, focusing on the cellulose acetate filters in cigarette butts, which are the world's most collected litter item. The modeling estimated substantial municipal cleanup costs and environmental damage costs attributable to cigarette butt waste globally, providing economic arguments for filter bans.
Evaluation of the environmental perception of the users over solid residues on the beach of Tamandaré/Brazil
This Brazilian study surveyed beach users at Tamandaré beach about their awareness of solid waste pollution and waste disposal behaviors. Most users acknowledged the environmental problem of beach litter, but disposal habits did not always match awareness levels. Understanding public environmental perception is important for designing effective campaigns to reduce beach plastic pollution and microplastic generation.
Environmental perception of regular beach of Itaipu, Niterói, RJ, about the anthropogenic litter after awareness activities
Researchers evaluated the environmental perception of beachgoers at Itaipu Beach in Niteroi, Brazil regarding anthropogenic litter, comparing attitudes and litter collection volumes before and after an environmental awareness activity. Results showed a significant difference in kilograms of litter collected per person between the two days, demonstrating that targeted awareness activities can meaningfully change behavior toward beach litter.
Unveiling coastal pollution: A multi-technology approach to micro and macro litter assessment for the environmental characterization of beaches
Researchers conducted a multi-technology environmental characterization of a Mediterranean beach in southern Italy, simultaneously measuring microplastic density and beach litter composition using innovative low-impact procedures, providing a replicable framework for assessing combined micro-to-macro plastic pollution in coastal environments.
Investigating the Role of Tourists and Impact of Knowledge, Behaviour, and Attitude Towards Plastic Waste Generation
Researchers surveyed tourists to assess how their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior influence plastic waste generation at outdoor recreation sites, finding that awareness gaps drive littering and that circular economy approaches could convert tourist-generated waste into local economic opportunity.
The generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation
Researchers measured marine litter accumulation on Mediterranean island beaches and found that during peak tourist season, litter builds up nearly five times faster — amounting to an estimated 40 million items per day across all regional islands. Pilot cleanup and waste-reduction actions during high-season reduced litter by up to 52%, demonstrating that targeted interventions can meaningfully cut plastic pollution entering the sea.
Littered cigarette butts in both coastal and inland cities of China: occurrence and environmental risk assessment
Researchers surveyed cigarette butt pollution across four Chinese cities, both coastal and inland, assessing contamination levels and heavy metal leaching risks. The study found that cigarette butts release microplastics and heavy metal particles, with contamination patterns varying by land use type and city development level, highlighting cigarette waste as an underappreciated source of microplastic pollution.
Time to kick the butt of the most common litter item in the world: Ban cigarette filters
Researchers argue that cigarette filters, made of cellulose acetate single-use plastic, offer no public health benefit while being the most littered item globally and a significant source of microplastics, toxic chemical leaching, and ecological harm.
A systematic literature review of voluntary behaviour change approaches in single use plastic reduction
This systematic review examines efforts to voluntarily reduce single-use plastic consumption through behavior change rather than legislation. The research finds that while government bans on plastics are effective, voluntary approaches that respect individual choice can also make a difference. Understanding what motivates people to reduce plastic use is key to tackling the microplastic pollution problem at its source.
Assessment of beach litter pollution in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco: a study of macro and meso-litter on Mediterranean beaches
Researchers surveyed 37 Mediterranean beaches in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia for plastic litter, finding that urban and tourist beaches were most heavily polluted, with macro-litter averaging over 5,000 pieces per 100 meters. The study also developed a faster, cost-effective monitoring method and concluded that beach cleaning alone cannot solve the problem — better waste management and public awareness are essential.
Beach litter in three South American countries: A baseline for restarting monitoring and cleaning after COVID-19 closure
Researchers surveyed beach litter on 25 South American beaches before and after COVID-19 closures, finding that cigarette butts were the most common item while plastic and organic debris patterns varied by country. The study establishes a baseline for ongoing coastal monitoring and provides region-specific data to guide cleanup and policy efforts.
Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Perilaku Pengunjung dalam Membuang Sampah di Pantai Lampu Satu Kabupaten Merauke Papua
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it is a cross-sectional study examining factors — such as knowledge, attitude, gender, and age — that influence whether beach visitors in Papua, Indonesia properly dispose of their rubbish.
Koja je cijena pušenja? – Opasnosti za okoliš
This Croatian paper reviews the environmental hazards of cigarette butt litter, noting that approximately 80% of cigarette butts are discarded into the environment. Cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a polymer that degrades slowly and leaches toxic chemicals into soil and water. The authors discuss biodegradable filter alternatives as a strategy to reduce plastic pollution from tobacco products.
The generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation
This study examined how tourism drives marine litter accumulation on Mediterranean island beaches, finding that tourist season dramatically increases litter loads. The authors evaluated mitigation strategies and found that active beach cleaning combined with visitor education can significantly reduce plastic accumulation in these heavily visited coastal ecosystems.
Anthropogenic Litter on Beaches With Different Levels of Development and Use: A Snapshot of a Coast in Pernambuco (Brazil)
Beach litter was surveyed at nine sites in northeastern Brazil, finding plastic dominated at all beach types but with differences in litter composition linked to local activities. Characterizing litter sources at specific beaches is essential for targeted waste reduction policies.