Chemical contents and toxicity of cigarette butts leachates in aquatic environment: A case study from the Persian Gulf region

Cigarette butts (CBs) are one of the most commonly found types of litter contaminating the aquatic environment. However, the environmental risks posed by CBs need further investigation. In this study, the in-vivo toxic effects of various concentrations of CB leachates on juvenile (5.45 ± 1.36 gr and 7.08 ± 1.12 cm) fish (Periophthalmus waltoni) were evaluated. The LC₅₀ values of CB leachate from smoked cigarette butts with tobacco (SCB) were 3.75, 3.0, 1.94, and 1.37 CBs/L in 24, 48, 72, and 96 h exposure times, respectively. The LC₅₀ values for leachate of smoked CBs without tobacco (SF) were 7.58, 6.22, 4.73, and 2.9 CBs/L at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h exposure times, respectively. In the case of leachate from unsmoked filters (USF), LC₅₀ values were 14.68, 12.44, 10.19, and 7.46 CBs/L in 24, 48, 72, and 96 h exposure time, respectively. The mean concentrations of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in SCBs leachates were higher than in SF and USF leachates. Our findings report that even low concentrations of CBs leachates can led to lethality of P. waltoni and may pose a threat to their population density.