Nguyen Minh-Ky, Pham Minh-Thuan, Anh Nguyen Tuan, Nguyen D, Van Tri Dao, La D Duong, Chang S Woong, Nguyen D Duc
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University of Ho Chi Minh City, Gialai Campus, Hamlet 1, Dien Phu Commune, Pleiku City 600000, Vietnam.
Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan; Institute of Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Mar;212:117539. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117539. Epub 2025 Jan 10.
Cigarette butts (CBs), alongside other plastic items, are widely recognized as a significant source of marine litter in coastal areas worldwide. This research is the first to examine CB pollution, offering valuable insights into its impact across various beaches in Vung Tau, Vietnam. A total of 512 CBs were collected, with an average density of 0.085 ± 0.025 CBs m. The cigarette butt pollution index (CBPI) values indicated two pollution levels: 8.3 % classified as extremely low and 91.7 % as low. Cellulose acetate (CA) filters are considered a common hazardous item due to their widespread use, improper disposal, and associated risks. The hazardous items index (HII) ranged from 0.423 to 1.350 items m, with a mean of 1.041 items m. Our investigation revealed that human activities drive coastal pollution, with the tourism industry contributing the highest abundance of littered CBs, largely due to common activities by the tourism industry and residents. The inputs from this investigation will help enrich the limited information on CB characteristics, sources, and pollution levels along the Vung Tau coast. It will also support efforts to address common single-use plastics (SUPs) and manage tourist activities on the country's beaches. Addressing these concerns requires policy frameworks, community engagement campaigns, and social participation. A practical and effective strategy to mitigate this pollution should be toward a circular economy approach, which focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling CB plastic waste. Implementing powerful waste management practices and promoting environmentally sustainable products can mitigate CB contamination risks in essential marine areas and sensitive coastal ecosystems.
烟头与其他塑料制品一样，被广泛认为是全球沿海地区海洋垃圾的重要来源。这项研究首次对烟头污染进行了调查，为其对越南头顿市各海滩的影响提供了有价值的见解。共收集到512个烟头，平均密度为0.085±0.025个/平方米。烟头污染指数（CBPI）值表明有两个污染水平：8.3%被归类为极低，91.7%为低。醋酸纤维素（CA）过滤嘴因其广泛使用、处置不当及相关风险而被视为常见危险物品。危险物品指数（HII）范围为0.423至1.350个/平方米，平均值为1.041个/平方米。我们的调查显示，人类活动导致沿海污染，旅游业产生的乱扔烟头数量最多，这主要归因于旅游业和居民的常见活动。本次调查的结果将有助于丰富关于头顿海岸烟头特征、来源和污染水平的有限信息。它还将支持应对常见一次性塑料（SUPs）以及管理该国海滩上游客活动的努力。解决这些问题需要政策框架、社区参与活动和社会参与。减轻这种污染的一个切实有效的策略应该是采用循环经济方法，该方法侧重于减少、再利用和回收烟头塑料垃圾。实施强有力的废物管理措施并推广环境可持续产品，可以降低重要海洋区域和敏感沿海生态系统中烟头污染的风险。
