Cigarette butts toxic to fish.

I thought this was an interesting article and since it affects the world, I posted it here, even though the research was done at San Diego State University.

It's not intended to attack anyone who smokes, however if the butts could be disposed properly, it would help our water quality and reduce the impact on aquatic life.

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=22670418

Cigarette butts are toxic to fish and should be labeled as toxic hazardous waste, U.S. researchers say.

Scientists at San Diego State University say that a single cigarette butt containing a small amount of unburnt tobacco is enough to contaminate a litre of water and kill half of the fish swimming in it.

"Based on this new research, we believe that cigarettes should be considered toxic waste and new requirements need to be established for how they are disposed," Tom Novotny, a public health professor at San Diego State University, said in a statement.

The researchers tested the toxicity of the tobacco on fresh and saltwater fish: fathead minnows and top smelt — two species that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency typically uses in pollution studies.

The cigarette butts were left soaking in the water for a day before fish were placed in it for testing.

Whole cigarettes and cigarette butts with unburnt tobacco were found to be the most toxic, but even filters that had been smoked and that had no tobacco left on them were found to be toxic.

Cigarette filters are made of cellulose-acetate, which does not biodegrade.

Okay, so what you're really tellin' us is that you have a 2nd job with PETA, is that right?

LOL, no, just put your butt in it's right place...

Canuck wrote:LOL, no, just put your butt in it's right place...

Post of the week!

wha???? it hurts our waterworld species? and thats bad somehow?? thats what hitler said in the 30's!!

i am all for finding a way to correct this issue..quit having all the extra stuff added to cigs..just make cigs regular tobacco and biodegradable non-poisoned paper.