Assessment of uncontrolled PAHs leakage from littered cigarette butts into the urban environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous pollutants that leak into the environment from various sources, including cigarette butts. In this study, the consequence of the littered cigarette butts on the leakage of 16 typical PAHs into the urban environment was investigated. The results showed that the density of littered cigarette butts in the studied locations was 0.174/m2. The cigarette butt pollution index was in the range of 0.119 to 24.3. 60% of the studied locations were in sever pollution and high pollution status. The total PAHs leakage from littered cigarette butts affected by climatic conditions was estimated to be 2.05 to 4.02 micrograms per square metre. Naphthalene had the largest share among the PAHs types (more than 66%). littered cigarette butts are an important source of PAHs in urban environments, which can be a compelling reason to develop more efficient methods of managing this hazardous waste.