Small Butt Harmful: Individual- and Population-Level Impacts of Cigarette Filter Particles on the Deposit-Feeding Polychaete Capitella teleta

Abstract

In the marine environment, discarded cigarette filters (CFs) deteriorate and leach filter-associated chemicals. The study aim was to assess the effects of smoked CFs (SCFs) and nonsmoked CFs (NCFs) particles on individual life-history traits in the deposit-feeding polychaete Capitella teleta and extrapolate these to possible population-level effects. C. teleta was exposed to sedimentspiked particles of NCFs and SCFs at an environmentally realistic concentration (0.1 mg particles g −1 dw sed) and a 100-fold higher (10 mg particles g −1 dw sed) concentration. Experimental setup incorporated 11 individual endpoints and lasted approximately 6 months. There were significant effects on all endpoints, except from adult body volume and egestion rate, in worms exposed to 10 mg SCF particles g −1 dw sed. Although not statistically significant, there was ≥50% impact on time between reproductive events and number of eggs per female at 0.1 mg SCF particles g −1 dw sed. None of the endpoints was significantly affected by NCFs. Results suggest that SCFs are likely to affect individual life-history traits of C. teleta, whereas the population model suggests that these effects might not transform into population-level effects. The results further indicate that chemicals associated with CFs are the main driver causing the effects rather than the CF particles.

When and How to Conduct Ecotoxicological Tests Using Natural Field‐Collected Sediment

“…There is a general lack of consistency among equilibration time after sediment spiking, ranging from hours or days (see Palmqvist et al, 2003; Sandgaard, Syberg, et al, 2023; Selck et al, 1999; Thit et al, 2020) to weeks or months (see Brumbaugh et al, 2013; Hutchins et al, 2007; Nielsen et al, 2017; Northcott & Jones, 2000), without consistency among similar contaminants. We recommend choosing the spiking method and equilibration time that allow a relatively homogeneous distribution of the contaminant based on both contaminant properties and the research (regulatory or scientific) question.…”

“…Consequently, the use (e.g., for laboratory rearing and experiments) and preparation of natural field‐collected sediment are often developed and evolved locally within research groups. For instance, the ecotoxicology group at Roskilde University has been using natural field‐collected sediment when studying sediment‐associated contaminants over the past several decades (see Ellegaard‐Petersen et al, 2010; Linke‐Gamenick et al, 1999; Nielsen et al, 2017; Palmqvist et al, 2003; Sandgaard, Syberg, et al, 2023; Selck et al, 1998, 2003a; Thit et al, 2015).…”