PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Novotny, Thomas E
AU  - Hardin, Sarah N
AU  - Hovda, Lynn R
AU  - Novotny, Dale J
AU  - McLean, Mary Kay
AU  - Khan, Safdar
TI  - Tobacco and cigarette butt consumption in humans and animals
AID  - 10.1136/tc.2011.043489
DP  - 2011 May 01
TA  - Tobacco Control
PG  - i17--i20
VI  - 20
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i17.short
4100  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i17.full
SO  - Tob Control2011 May 01; 20
AB  - Discarded cigarette butts may present health risks to human infants and animals because of indiscriminate eating behaviours. Nicotine found in cigarette butts may cause vomiting and neurological toxicity; leachates of cigarette butts in aquatic environments may cause exposure to additional toxic chemicals including heavy metals, ethyl phenol and pesticide residues. This report reviews published and grey literature regarding cigarette butt waste consumption by children, pets and wildlife. Although reports of human and animal exposures number in the tens of thousands, severe toxic outcomes due to butt consumption are rare. Nonetheless, the ubiquity of cigarette butt waste and its potential for adverse effects on human and animal health warrants additional research and policy interventions to reduce the stream of these pollutants in the environment.