An overview on analytical methods and the occurrence of organic pollutants in cigarette litter

Cigarette litter, such as cigarette ash, cigarette butts, and cigarette butt leachates, can contain organic pollutants similar to those in cigarette smoke, but studies on these waste types are still relatively limited. This review article compiles information from studies published over the past four decades on organic pollutants in cigarette ash, cigarette butts, and leachates from cigarette butts, to provide insights into quantitatively analytical methods and the presence of these toxicants in cigarette litter. The main organic pollutants found in cigarette litter include: volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nicotine, and aromatic amines. Gas chromatography or liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection have been the most frequently used methods to characterize organic pollutants in cigarette litter. Toxic substances in improperly disposed cigarette waste can pollute the environment through evaporation into the air or leakage through leachates into the water environment, seepage into soil, accumulate in sediment, and cause negative effects on organisms. Further studies on analytical method development, pollution monitoring, and risk assessment related to organic pollutants in cigarette waste are needed.