Environmental fate and effects of nicotine released during cigarette production

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Joel A SeckarJon Doi

Abstract

A variety of test methods were used to study the gradation, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of nicotine. Studies included determination of the octanol-water partition coefficient, conversion to CO2 in soil and activated sludge, and evaluation of the effects on microbiological and algal inhibition as well as plant germination and root elongation. The partitioning of nicotine between octanol and water indicated that nicotine will not bioaccumulate regardless of the pH of the medium. The aqueous and soil-based biodegradation studies indicated that nicotine is readily biodegradable in both types of media. The microbiological inhibition and aquatic and terrestrial toxicity tests indicated that nicotine has low toxicity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Persistence, Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity Profiler model, based on the structure of nicotine and the predictive rates of hydroxyl radical and ozone reactions, estimated an atmospheric half-life of less than 5.0 h. Using this value in the Canadian Environmental Modeling Center level III model, the half-life of nicotine was estimated as 3.0 d in water and 0.5 d in soil. This model also estimated nicotine discharge into the environment; nicotine would be expected to be found predo...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 25, 2014·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Mei-Zhen WangDong-Sheng Shen
Apr 24, 2012·The Science of the Total Environment·Armando ZarrelliLucio Previtera
May 6, 2017·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Ana Lourdes OropesaPatrícia Palma
Dec 20, 2020·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety·Ya-Dong ChengHuan-Wen Yang
Sep 26, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Lushi LianWeihua Song

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bioremediation (ASM)

Bioremediation is the treatment and removal of harmful pollutants or contaminants through the use of microorganisms. Discover the latest research here.