Smokers’ behaviour and the toxicity of cigarette filters to aquatic life: a multidisciplinary study

Abstract Cigarettes are the most littered item in public spaces. Smokers who litter leaving a trace of toxic waste that adds to global plastic pollution due harmful chemicals and semisynthetic microfibres compose cigarette filters. Here we present multidisciplinary study aiming assess i) predictors littering, ii) toxicity filters freshwater invertebrate Chironomus riparius , including iii) potential driver toxicity. Unobtrusive observations 597 smokers at places were analysed using logistic regression, which showed age (negatively) group setting (positively) personal predictors, number ashtrays is contextual predictor littering. In addition, assessed acute chronic aquatic standardized ecotoxicity tests on several lethal sublethal effects, both smoked unsmoked Following 48-h exposure, concentrations 2 filters/L from caused 36–100% 75–100% larvae immobility, respectively. We further demonstrated filter fibres seem add leachates. Seven-day exposures used either contaminated water or sediment (3 weeks leaching time, eq. 1 filter/L filter/166.5 ml sediment) via more frequent severe effects than water. Larvae exposed (smoked filters) exhibited > 20% higher mortality, 1.5-fold decrease growth, 80% decreased development, compared control conditions. Moreover, found have be teratogenic invertebrates. Our results could support prevention efforts, advisably integrated educational campaigns. The campaigns account for societal environmental complexity littering by being tailored determined as content.