WHAT'S IN A BUTT? ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION FROM AIRBORNE CIGARETTE BUTT EMISSIONS

摘要

Cigarette butts are ubiquitous in the environment. Globally, 5 trillion cigarette butts are generated every year (Smith and Novotny 2011). Cigarette butts are one of the most common forms of litter discarded onto beaches, bus stops, roads, streets, parks, and many other public places (Novotny et al. 2011). They are also commonly found in ashtrays in homes, cars, and public places (Novotny et al. 2011). Most cigarette filters (a major part of cigarette butts) are made of cellulose acetate, which is photodegradable, but not easily biodegradable (Puls et al. 2011). Hence, they may persist in the environment for more than 10 years. Although many measures have been taken to prevent or mitigate cigarette butt pollution, none have been effective (Smith and Novotny 2011).