A Review of Environmental Pollution from the Use and Disposal of Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes: Contaminants, Sources, and Impacts

Marc W. Beutel, Thomas C. Harmon, Thomas E. Novotny, Jeremiah Mock, Michelle E. Gilmore, Stephen C. Hart, Samuel Traina, Srimanti Duttagupta, Andrew Brooks, Christopher L. Jerde, Eunha Hoh, Laurie C. Van De Werfhorst, Butsic Van, Ariani C. Wartenberg and Patricia A. Holden
Additional contact information
Marc W. Beutel: Environmental Systems Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
Thomas C. Harmon: Environmental Systems Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
Thomas E. Novotny: School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Jeremiah Mock: Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
Michelle E. Gilmore: Environmental Systems Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
Stephen C. Hart: Department of Life & Environmental Sciences and Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
Samuel Traina: Environmental Systems Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
Srimanti Duttagupta: School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Andrew Brooks: Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Christopher L. Jerde: Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Eunha Hoh: School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Laurie C. Van De Werfhorst: Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Butsic Van: Environmental Science, Policy and Management Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Ariani C. Wartenberg: Environmental Science, Policy and Management Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Patricia A. Holden: Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: While the impacts of cigarette smoking on human health are widely known, a less recognized impact of tobacco product use and disposal is environmental pollution. This review discusses the current literature related to cigarette and e-cigarette contamination in the context of environmental sources and impacts, with a focus on the documented influences on biota, ranging from bacteria to mammals. Cigarette butts and electronic cigarette components can leach contaminants into soil, water, and air. Cellulose acetate cigarette filters comprising the butts are minimally degradable and are a source of bulk plastic and microplastic pollution, especially in aquatic ecosystems where they tend to accumulate. Cigarette combustion and aerosol production during e-cigarette use result in air contamination from sidestream, exhaled, and thirdhand pathways. The chemical byproducts of tobacco product use contaminate wastewater effluents, landfill leachates, and urban storm drains. The widespread detection of nicotine and cotinine in the environment illustrates the potential for large-scale environmental impacts of tobacco product waste. Studies show that cigarette butt leachate and nicotine are toxic to microbes, plants, benthic organisms, bivalves, zooplankton, fish, and mammals; however, there remain critical knowledge gaps related to the environmental impacts of tobacco product waste on environmental health and ecosystem functioning.

Keywords: cigarette butts; cotinine; environmental contamination; microplastics; nicotine; tobacco product waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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