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Cigarette Butts Are Toxic Waste: Study

Cigarette-soaked water kills fish

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 9, 2009 5:30 PM CST
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(Newser) – The chemicals in cigarette butts are lethal to fish, and the finding is bolstering researchers who want coffin nails classified as toxic waste. San Diego State University researchers submerged filters from smoked cigarettes in tanks of water for 24 hours, then added fish. Within 5 days, half the fish died. Further investigation is needed to see whether enough butts are being discarded to have a similar effect on the world’s water.

Regardless of the outcome, public health experts are concerned: It might be harmless “if I pour a little vial of carcinogenic chemicals on the street,” an SDSU public health professor tells the San Diego Union-Tribune. “But if hundreds of thousands of people were doing so many times a day, wouldn’t someone worry about it? Probably so.”

Cigarette butts join other trash and seagrass that are washed up on the shore on the beach Wednesday, June 6, 2007 on Virginia Key in Miami.
Cigarette butts join other trash and seagrass that are washed up on the shore on the beach Wednesday, June 6, 2007 on Virginia Key in Miami.   (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
LONDON - OCTOBER 26: A stubbed out cigarette lies on the pavement on October 26, 2005 in London, England.
LONDON - OCTOBER 26: A stubbed out cigarette lies on the pavement on October 26, 2005 in London, England.   (Getty Images)
PARIS - JANUARY 31: Cigarettes are seen in an ashtray in the Northern railway station on January 31, 2007 in Paris, France.
PARIS - JANUARY 31: Cigarettes are seen in an ashtray in the Northern railway station on January 31, 2007 in Paris, France.   (Getty Images)
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - DECEMBER 13: Cigarette stubs are pictured in an ashtray December 13, 2006 in Frankfurt, Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to meet with German state governors later in the day to discuss a proposed law on banning smoking in bars, restaurants, hospitals and schools.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - DECEMBER 13: Cigarette stubs are pictured in an ashtray December 13, 2006 in Frankfurt, Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to meet with German state governors later in...   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Face-Of-RNC
Nov 10, 2009 6:16 AM CST
More hate from a right-winger. Blah Blah, Bleat, bleat. Beck's sheep herd of hate speaks.
zackmasson
Nov 10, 2009 5:34 AM CST
I'm not against labeling "toxic waste" on butts. Very fitting.
davjc09
Nov 10, 2009 5:09 AM CST
It's called a negative control. Put fish in water without cigarette butts. Serves as a baseline.
Green • Health • Money

 
pollution • smoking • ocean • fish • carcinogens • toxic waste • cigarette

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