Research Article

Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds

Volume: 9 Number: 3 September 27, 2025

Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds

Abstract

Cigarette consumption and the associated environmental impact of cigarette waste are on the rise. Among these, cigarette butts particularly due to their cellulose acetate content can persist in the environment for prolonged periods and may exert toxic effects on soil dwelling organisms and plants. This study aimed to evaluate the phytotoxic effects of leachates derived from both regular and light cigarette butts and filters on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek (mung bean). Experimental groups included a negative control (distilled water), a positive control (0.02 M ethyl methanesulfonate), and treatments with leachates of light cigarette butts, light filters, regular cigarette butts, and regular filters. Leachates were applied at varying concentrations (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100%), and their effects were assessed based on seed germination, root and shoot lengths, growth index (%GI), relative growth index (RGI), and fresh and dry biomass. The results revealed significant inhibition of root and shoot growth at concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 100% across all treatment groups. Higher concentrations notably suppressed RGI and %GI values (p < 0.05), while fresh and dry weights declined proportionally with increasing concentration. These findings clearly demonstrate that leachates from both regular and light cigarette butts and filters have phytotoxic effects on plant development. Given the growing concern over environmental pollution, the need for effective strategies to mitigate the ecological risks posed by cigarette waste is evident, underscoring the importance of further research in this area.

Keywords

Biomass, Cigarette butt, Germination, Growth Index, Phytotoxicity, Vigna radiata

Thanks

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey, for providing the necessary laboratory facilities for this study. This research is part of the master's thesis titled "Investigation of the Phytotoxic, Cytotoxic, and Genotoxic Effects of Light Cigarette Butt Water Using Different Test Methods."

References

  1. Barnabas, B., Jäger, K., & Fehér, A. (2008). The effect of drought and heat stress on reproductive processes in cereals. Plant, Cell & Environment, 31(1), 11–38. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2007.01727.x
  2. Belzagui, F., Buscio, V., Gutiérrez-Bouzán, C., & Vilaseca, M. (2021). Cigarette butts as a microfiber source with a microplastic level of concern. Science of The Total Environment, 762, 144165. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144165
  3. Bhalla, P.R., Whitaker, T.W., & Sabharwal, P.S. (1973). Effect of water soluble tobacco smoke extracts from filter and non-filter cigarettes on seed germination of onion and tomato. Environmental Pollution, 5, 231-236. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9327(73)90016-2
  4. Bishnoi, N.R., Chugh, K., & Sawhney, S.K. (1993). Effect of chromium on photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen fixation in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings. Journal of Plant Physiology, 142, 25-30.
  5. Bishop, K.C., Ketcham, J.D., & Kuminoff, N.V. (2022). Hazed and confused: The effect of air pollution on dementia. NBER Working Paper Series, Working Paper No. 24970. Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/papers/w24970
  6. Bonciu, E., Firbas, P., Fontanetti, C.S., Wusheng, J., Karaismailoğlu, M., … Papini, A. (2018). An evaluation for the standardization of the Allium cepa test as cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assay. Caryologia, 71(3), 191-209. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00087114.2018.1503496
  7. Charles, J., Sancey, B., Crini, M.N., Badot, P., Degiorgi, F., Trunfio, G., & Crini, G. (2011). Evaluation of the phytotoxicity of polycontaminated industrial effluents using the lettuce plant (Lactuca sativa) as a bioindicator. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.07.025
  8. Chatzistathis, T., & Therios, I. (2013). How soil nutrient availability influences plant biomass and how biomass stimulation alleviates heavy metal toxicity in soils: The cases of nutrient use efficient genotypes and phytoremediators, respectively. In E. Anderson (Ed.), Soil Fertility (pp. 18). InTech. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5772/53594
  9. Darabi, K., Hassani, G., Alinejad, N., & Badeenezhad, A. (2023). Spatial and temporal variation of CBPI and leakage of heavy metals from cigarette butts into the urban environment. Scientific Reports, 13, 1424. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28340-6
  10. Dobaradaran, S., Schmidt, T.C., Nabipour, I., Khajeahmadi, N., Tajbakhsh, S., Saeedi, R., Mohammadi, M.J., Keshtkar, M., Khorsand, M., & Faraji Ghasemi, F. (2018). Characterization of plastic debris and association of metals with microplastics in coastline sediment along the Persian Gulf. Waste Management, 78, 649-658. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.06.037
APA
Sadıç, E., & Aşkın Çelik, T. (2025). Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 9(3), 654-662. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.3
AMA
1.Sadıç E, Aşkın Çelik T. Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025;9(3):654-662. doi:10.31015/2025.3.3
Chicago
Sadıç, Emine, and Tülay Aşkın Çelik. 2025. “Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna Radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9 (3): 654-62. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.3.
EndNote
Sadıç E, Aşkın Çelik T (September 1, 2025) Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9 3 654–662.
IEEE
[1]E. Sadıç and T. Aşkın Çelik, “Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 654–662, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.31015/2025.3.3.
ISNAD
Sadıç, Emine - Aşkın Çelik, Tülay. “Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna Radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9/3 (September 1, 2025): 654-662. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.3.
JAMA
1.Sadıç E, Aşkın Çelik T. Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025;9:654–662.
MLA
Sadıç, Emine, and Tülay Aşkın Çelik. “Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna Radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 9, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 654-62, doi:10.31015/2025.3.3.
Vancouver
1.Emine Sadıç, Tülay Aşkın Çelik. Environmental Threats of Cigarette Waste: Phytotoxic Effects of Leachate from Cigarette Butts on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek Seeds. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025 Sep. 1;9(3):654-62. doi:10.31015/2025.3.3