Assessing cigarette butt pollution on recreational beaches: A comparative study of two sampling methods and their impact on metal release

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2025-02, Vol.211, p.117416, Article 117416
• Main Authors: Kouhi, Kosar, Abbasi-Tajaddod, Akram, Gholami-Borujeni, Fathollah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caspian Sea; Cigarette butts; cigarettes; comparative study; manganese; marine pollution; mercury; meta-analysis; Metals; Pollution; risk; Sampling; Seacoast; wastes; wind
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117416

Discarded cigarette butts (CBs) are a significant source of environmental pollution. In areas with large amounts of cigarette waste, environmental hazards may arise due to the leaching of chemicals from filters and smoked tobacco. Accurately estimating the number of CBs on beaches requires a standardized method. Additionally, estimating the release of metals from these pollutants can provide important insights into beach pollution. This study compares two sampling methods to estimate CB waste on recreational beaches and evaluate the potential release of metals. In this combined experimental and meta-analysis study, circular methods with diameters of 5, 10, and 15 m were compared to a Flood Accumulation Zone (FAZ) method (1 m by 10 m, parallel to the waterline). Systematic study methods and meta-analysis were applied to estimate the release of metals along the Caspian Sea beaches. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences in the averages of at least one sampling method (P