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Sustainability
Volume 16
Issue 22
10.3390/su16229778
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Article

Ecotoxicological Impact of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Ecosystems: The Case of Marbella Beach, Chile

by
René A. Garrido Lazo
1,*,
Raydel Manrique Suárez
2,
María F. Bravo Guerra
1,
Constanza C. Soto Silva
1,
Jaime Pizarro Konczak
1 and
Claudia Ortiz Calderón
3
1
Departamento de Ingeniería Geoespacial y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
2
Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Matemática y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago 7750000, Chile
3
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9778; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229778
Submission received: 20 September 2024 / Revised: 27 October 2024 / Accepted: 6 November 2024 / Published: 9 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability)
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Abstract

Cigarette butts (CBs) are a major source of persistent pollution in coastal ecosystems, introducing harmful chemicals and microplastics into the environment. This study assesses the ecotoxicological impact of CB leachates on Marbella Beach, Chile, by analyzing the metal contamination and its phytotoxic effects on Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne. Three scenarios were evaluated: CBs alone, CBs mixed with sand, and sand alone. Leachate analysis revealed significant concentrations of iron and zinc, with higher toxicity observed in scenarios involving CBs. Ecotoxicological assays demonstrated that cigarette butt leachates severely inhibited seed germination and plant growth, particularly in Lactuca sativa, which showed greater sensitivity compared to that of Lolium perenne. The results underscore the partial mitigating role of sand, although it was insufficient to prevent the toxic effects of CBs. The persistence of cellulose acetate in the environment and the continued release of hazardous chemicals highlight the ecological risks posed by cigarette butt pollution. These findings emphasize the need for improved waste management strategies and the development of biodegradable cigarette filters to reduce environmental contamination in coastal areas.
Keywords: cigarette butt pollution; ecotoxicology; coastal ecosystems; heavy metal contamination; iron and zinc toxicity; plant bioassays; Lactuca sativa; Lolium perenne; environmental contamination; leachate toxicity cigarette butt pollution; ecotoxicology; coastal ecosystems; heavy metal contamination; iron and zinc toxicity; plant bioassays; Lactuca sativa; Lolium perenne; environmental contamination; leachate toxicity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Garrido Lazo, R.A.; Manrique Suárez, R.; Bravo Guerra, M.F.; Soto Silva, C.C.; Pizarro Konczak, J.; Ortiz Calderón, C. Ecotoxicological Impact of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Ecosystems: The Case of Marbella Beach, Chile. Sustainability 2024, 16, 9778. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229778

AMA Style

Garrido Lazo RA, Manrique Suárez R, Bravo Guerra MF, Soto Silva CC, Pizarro Konczak J, Ortiz Calderón C. Ecotoxicological Impact of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Ecosystems: The Case of Marbella Beach, Chile. Sustainability. 2024; 16(22):9778. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229778

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garrido Lazo, René A., Raydel Manrique Suárez, María F. Bravo Guerra, Constanza C. Soto Silva, Jaime Pizarro Konczak, and Claudia Ortiz Calderón. 2024. "Ecotoxicological Impact of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Ecosystems: The Case of Marbella Beach, Chile" Sustainability 16, no. 22: 9778. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229778

APA Style

Garrido Lazo, R. A., Manrique Suárez, R., Bravo Guerra, M. F., Soto Silva, C. C., Pizarro Konczak, J., & Ortiz Calderón, C. (2024). Ecotoxicological Impact of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Ecosystems: The Case of Marbella Beach, Chile. Sustainability, 16(22), 9778. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229778

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