Cigarette filters as a major source of microfibers in aquatic environments
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Abstract
Abstract Cigarette butts (CBs) are known as one of the most prevalent forms of environmental waste, needing global attention to mitigate their detrimental health and ecological impacts. Owing to their filter composition, discarded CBs can persistently release microfibers (MFs) into the environment. In this research, the levels, characteristics, and ecological risks associated with MFs released from cigarette filters (CFs) into water (distilled and seawater) were investigated under various environmental conditions (laboratory and outdoor settings). The assessment focused on short-term exposure durations of 1, 2, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days, forming the initial phase of this research. The mean level of released MFs ranged from 5.78-92.43 items/g CFs. The results highlighted that more MFs were released from CFs into the seawater and outdoor environment at a contact time of 60 days. The predominant size and color of the released MFs were 20-50 µm and white/transparent, respectively. The main detected polymer composition of MFs was cellulose acetate. The computed pollution load index (PLI) values were > 30, indicating severe pollution. Additionally, the risk quotient (RQ) values were greater than 1, indicating a potential threat to the water environment. Based on mean levels of released MFs through CFs during contact times of 1 to 60 days and the amount of discarded CBs yearly on a global scale, CFs can leachate14×10 12 -51×10 12 MFs into the aquatic environments. The results of present research allow scientific society to better comprehend the CFs' role in transporting MFs in the aquatic systems as well as their potential environmental risks.
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Dobaradaran, S., Mutke, X. A., Schmidt, T., Swiderski, P., De-la-Torre, G., & Jochmann, M. (2022) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134735 · Cited by 57 · cited 2×
“In former studies, other contaminants emission rate via CBs, including metal (loid)s 108 , BTEX 109 , PAHs 110 , aromatic amines 30 , and nicotine 111 , leached from CBs into aquatic environments have been estimated and reported.”
Self-citationA Raman spectral reference library of potential anthropogenic and biological ocean polymers
Miller, E. A., Yamahara, K. M., French, C., Spingarn, N. E., Birch, J. M., & Houtan, K. S. V. (2022) · Scientific Data · doi:10.1038/s41597-022-01883-5 · Cited by 52 · cited 1× · see citing works
“To identify the polymer type of MFs, the obtained Raman spectra were compared with a reference database library containing common MPs observed in environmental samples 35 .”
Cashman, M. A., Langknecht, T., Elkhatib, D., Burgess, R. M., Boving, T. B., Robinson, S., & Ho, K. T. (2021) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113254 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Zendehboudi, A., Mohammadi, A., Dobaradaran, S., De-la-Torre, G. E., Ramavandi, B., Hashemi, S. E., Saeedi, R., Tayebi, E. M., Vafaee, A., & Darabi, A. (2023) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115825 · Cited by 42 · cited 2× · see citing works
“This study’s findings agreed with the results of a former study on the Persian Gulf seawater and ballast water 26 .”
Self-citationTan, M., Sun, Y., Gui, J., Wang, J., Chen, X., Song, W., & Wu, D. (2022) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158440 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Simon-Sánchez, L., Vianello, A., Kirstein, I. V., Molazadeh, M., Lorenz, C., & Vollertsen, J. (2024) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175017 · Cited by 40 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The hazards posed by MPs increase with decreasing size, ascribed to increased bioavailability, a greater surface area to volume ratio, and the potential for transfer at cellular or tissue level 66 .”
Incidence and exposure to microplastics in table salt present in the Iran market
Taghipour, H., Ghayebzadeh, M., Mousavi, S. M. S., Sharifi, H., & Payandeh, A. (2023) · Toxicology Reports · doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.07.003 · Cited by 40 · cited 2× · see citing works
“The current study, however, was consistent with earlier studies 1,75,76 .”
Lee, S.-Y., An, J., Kim, J., & Kwon, J. (2022) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119909 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Assessment of microplastics in Irish river sediment
Murphy, L., Germaine, K. J., Kakouli‐Duarte, T., & Cleary, J. (2022) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09853 · Cited by 39 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Cellulose acetate is one of the most abundant MFs among identified MP types in coastal environments worldwide and CB are one of the most detected litters in coastal regions 79,80 .”
Accumulation and distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments from the inner Oslofjord, Norway
Bronzo, L., Lusher, A., Schøyen, M., & Morigi, C. (2021) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113076 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Elucidating nicotine transfer into water environments via cigarette butt remaining parts
Dobaradaran, S., Telgheder, U., De-la-Torre, G. E., Rockel, S. P., Mutke, X. A. M., & Schmidt, T. C. (2023) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122943 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationGholizadeh, M., Shadi, A., Abadi, A., Nemati, M., Senapathi, V., Karthikeyan, S., & Kulandaisamy, P. (2023) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115939 · Cited by 33 · cited 2× · see citing works
“In other studies conducted in Iran, the majority of MP particles in the coastal sediment of the Persian Gulf detected by an optical microscope were in the size range of 100–500 μm 62 and 2–5 mm 12 .”
Cellulose acetate cigarette filter is hazardous to human health
Novotny, T. E., & Hamzai, L. (2023) · Tobacco Control · doi:10.1136/tc-2023-057925 · Cited by 33 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Cellulose acetate is extensively applied to manufacture a CF 77 .”
Bhat, M., & Gaga, E. (2024) · Air quality, atmosphere and health · doi:10.1007/s11869-024-01624-0 · Cited by 31
Fong, J., Lee, S. H. R., Sun, Y., Lim, C.-L., Tan, Y., Tan, Y.-H., & Neo, M. L. (2023) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115645 · Cited by 30
Mušič, B., Kokalj, A. J., & Škapin, A. S. (2023) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym15122751 · Cited by 25 · cited 3× · see citing works
“Weathering and polymer aging can affect the cracks on the MPs surface and lead to fragmentation into more minor MPs or NPs 97 .”
Metallocene Polyethylene Wax Synthesis
Lamb, J. V., Buffet, J.-C., Turner, Z. R., Khamnaen, T., & O'Hare, D. (2020) · doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00990 · Cited by 25 · cited 1×
“Polyethylene waxes as additives are applied in printing inks to decrease the blockage and offsetting of stacked sheets, improve resistance to scratch and scuff, and change the coefficient of slip or friction 84 .”
Soltani, M., Shahsavani, A., Hopke, P. K., Bakhtiarvand, N. A., Abtahi, M., Rahmatinia, M., & Kermani, M. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-84784-4 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Priyambada, G., Kurniawan, B., Sitompul, R. G., & Darmayanti, L. (2023) · Materials Today Proceedings · doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2023.03.207 · Cited by 21 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The current study, however, was consistent with earlier studies 1,75,76 .”
Hassan, I., Sethupathi, S., Bashir, M. J. K., Munusamy, Y., & Chan, C. W. (2024) · Journal of environmental chemical engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jece.2024.112305 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Micro- and Nanoplastics Produced from Textile Finishes: A Review
Ali, A., Qamer, S., Shahid, M., Tomková, B., Khan, M. Z., Militký, J., Wiener, J., & Venkataraman, M. (2024) · Langmuir · doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00552 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Length-dependent toxic effects of microplastic fibers on Chlorella pyrenoidosa.
Zhang, Y., Ju, J., Long, X., Zhu, M., Jiang, Y., & Yang, H. (2023) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123037 · Cited by 17 · cited 1×
“While tiny MFs may be ingest by organisms and lead to the toxic impacts, such as oxidative stress induction and growth inhibition 72 .”
Holes on surfaces of the weathered plastic fragments from coastal beaches.
Zheng, Y.-F., Hamed, M., De-la-Torre, G., Frias, J., Jong, M.-C., Kolandhasamy, P., Chavanich, S., Su, L., Deng, H., Zhao, W.-J., et al. (2023) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115180 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
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Naik, R., Chakraborty, P., D'Costa, P. M., N., A., Mishra, R., & Fernandes, V. (2021) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117070 · Cited by 14 · cited 1×
“MPs and connected contaminants in the marine environment may affect organisms or enter into food chains and eventually be consumed by humans 58 .”
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Ertaş, A., Gökçe, B., & Tüney, İ. (2024) · Environmental Monitoring & Assessment · doi:10.1007/s10661-024-12814-9 · Cited by 9 · cited 1× · see citing works
“However, the dominant size of detected MPs in the coastal sediment of Balaban Lake, Turkey contaminated by CBs was reported as 100–250 μm 61 .”
Zhang, C., Meng, Q., Fan, Y., Zhang, T., Wang, Z., Xu, K., Du, C., Su, X., Sun, J., & Dong, S. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126520 · Cited by 6 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The salinity increases the MPs photoaging, mostly reflected in the hydrophilicity enhancement, particle size reduction, and oxygen content increment 54 .”
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Preparation and evaluation of polyamides for printing ink
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“Polyamide polymer is mainly used in paper and plastic printing inks 83 .”
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Cellulose acetate microfiber release from cigarette filters in agitated water
Vasseghi, G., & Atkinson, J. D. (2025) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics · doi:10.1016/j.hazmp.2025.100036 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Bonanomi, G., Iacomino, G., D'Esposito, D., Monti, M. M., Siciliano, A., Santorufo, L., Spampinato, M., Ruocco, M., Verrillo, M., Spaccini, R., et al. (2026) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127944 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Zhang, H., Fu, J.-Y., Wang, B.-L., Hu, H.-J., & Zhang, L.-B. (2026) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.145131
Kleine Abfälle, großer Schaden
Osterath, B. (2026) · Nachrichten aus Chemie Technik und Laboratorium · doi:10.1002/nadc.20264158528
Moscato, A., Rapisarda, P., Ferrante, M., Pulvirenti, E., Pellegrino, E., Amato, L., Palella, M., Torre, G. L., & Fiore, M. (2026) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics14100846
“Similarly, Mohammadi et al. (2025) reported a time-dependent increase in microfiber release from cigarette filters over 60 days, with greater release in seawater than in distilled water [57].”
Smoking microplastics: Global evidence of microplastic contamination in cigarette tobacco.
Gündoğdu, S., Terzi̇, Y., Çağlayan, U., Öztürk, R. Ç., Avcıoğlu, S., & Gedik, K. (2026) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128084
Jakob, K., Neuser, R., & Morlock, G. E. (2026) · Environmental Science Advances · doi:10.1039/d5va00314h
- Authors
- Mohammadi, A., Bahrani, F., De-la-Torre, G. E., Saeedi, R., Renner, G., Schmidt, T. C., & Dobaradaran, S.
- Affiliations
- Bushehr University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Korea University (KR)
- Shahid Beheshti University (IR)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Dobaradaran, Sina
- Venue
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-10-22
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 36980-36980
- ISSN
- 2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC12546863
- OpenAlex
- W4415423404
- Cited by
- 7
- References
- 113
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 1
- FWCI
- 1.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Universitätsbibliographie, Universität Duisburg-Essen (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Bushehr University of Medical Sciences (2517)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- cigarette filters, cigarette butts, microfibers, microfiber release, aquatic environment, seawater, pollution load index, risk quotient, cellulose acetate, environmental waste, microplastic pollution, exposure duration
- MeSH terms
- Environmental Monitoring, Filtration, Seawater, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Tobacco Products
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