Microbiological analysis of cigarette butts and cigarette butt fibers on a tourist beach in Cartagena, Colombia.

ABSTRACT: Cigarette butts (CBs) discarded on tourist beaches represent an emerging waste concern in marine-coastal ecosystems due to their persistence, low degradability, and toxicity. This study investigated CBs, cigarette butt fibers (CBFs), and beach sand in Cartagena, Colombia, as potential substrates for microbial growth. Samples were collected over five months from different beach usage zones (active, rest, and service) and analyzed for bacterial isolation, morphological and biochemical characterization, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, and the presence of total coliforms and Escherichia coli. The results revealed the presence of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in sand, CBs, and CBFs. Notably, Virgibacillus pantothenticus and Virgibacillus dokdonensis were identified and documented for

SUBMITTER: Diaz-Mendoza C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12032157 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature