Cigarette butts: a source of toxicity and potential disruption of Pila virens antioxidant mechanisms.

Abstract

Cigarette butts (CBs) have emerged as one of the most significant pollutants affecting the environment, particularly aquatic ecosystems. With trillions of cigarettes being manufactured worldwide each year, the disposal of discarded cigarette butts has become a major environmental issue. These butts contain various toxic substances such as nicotine, heavy metals, and other chemicals that can leach into water bodies, posing serious risks to aquatic organisms and disrupting the delicate balance of aquatic life. In this context, freshwater snails, specifically Pila virens, were selected as a model organism to evaluate the impact of CBs on aquatic health. The study exposed P. virens to varying concentrations of CBs-10, 25, and 50%-for different exposure durations (24 h and 48 h). The investigation revealed significant changes in key biomarkers related to oxidative stress and neurotoxicity, including a reduction in glutathione sulfotransferase (GST), protein carbonyl (PC), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Acetylcholine esterase (AChE), respectively. These alterations suggest that CBs induce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in P. virens, impairing their cellular defense mechanisms. The findings highlight the harmful ecological effects of CBs pollution, emphasizing the urgent need to address this growing environmental concern and its potential consequences on freshwater life. The study contributes valuable insights into the ecotoxicology of CBs contamination in aquatic environments.