Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco

Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco Publisher

Soleimani F¹ ; Habibi R² ; Arfaeinia H^{3, 4} ; Masjedi MR⁵ ; Tahmasbizadeh M⁶ ; Dadipoor S¹ ; Ebrahimi Kalan M^{7, 8} ; Zahedi A⁹

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1. Tobacco and Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
3. Addiction and Lifestyle Research Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
4. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
5. Tobacco Control Research Center (TCRC), Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association, Tehran, Iran
6. Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
7. Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
8. Department of Behavioural and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
9. Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Source: Environmental Technology and Innovation Published:2025

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are a ubiquitous form of waste and an emerging public health concern. MPs have been detected in various environmental matrixes, vegetables, and foods, but no data currently exists for tobacco samples. This research aimed to evaluate the concentration and characteristics of MPs in fresh tobaccos (fruit-flavored and regular) and their post-consumption waterpipe tobacco wastes (PWTWs). Our findings showed that the mean ± SD concentration of MPs particles in fresh flavored tobacco was 4.64 ± 1.59 items/g, whereas it was 0.79 ± 0.12 items/g in regular samples (p < 0.05). In the case of PWTW of flavored tobacco, the MPs concentration was 0.82 ± 0.07 items/g, while no particle was found in the PWTW of regular samples (p < 0.05). The most dominant size of MPs in fruit-flavored tobacco was 10–50 μm, while particles < 50μm (250–500μm) were the most frequent particles in fresh regular tobacco. Fibers were the most common shape among MP particles detected in both tobacco samples, with white/transparent and black being the predominant colors across all samples. The SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analysis revealed that carbon and oxygen (C and O) were the primary elements detected in MPs present in waterpipe tobacco, confirming that these particles are plastic in nature. To better understand the implications of these findings, further research is needed to assess additional MP characteristics, such as polymer type. Moreover, investigating the potential toxicity of these MPs is crucial for understanding their effects on smokers' health. © 2025 The Authors

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Hossein Movahedian Attar (3)

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Style	Citing Format
MLA	Soleimani F, et al.. "Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco." Environmental Technology and Innovation, vol. 38, no. , 2025, pp. -.
APA	Soleimani F, Habibi R, Arfaeinia H, Masjedi MR, Tahmasbizadeh M, Dadipoor S, Ebrahimi Kalan M, Zahedi A (2025). Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco. Environmental Technology and Innovation, 38(), -.
Chicago	Soleimani F, Habibi R, Arfaeinia H, Masjedi MR, Tahmasbizadeh M, Dadipoor S, Ebrahimi Kalan M, Zahedi A. "Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco." Environmental Technology and Innovation 38, no. (2025): -.
Harvard	Soleimani F et al. (2025) 'Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco', Environmental Technology and Innovation, 38(), pp. -.
Vancouver	Soleimani F, Habibi R, Arfaeinia H, Masjedi MR, Tahmasbizadeh M, Dadipoor S, et al.. Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco. Environmental Technology and Innovation. 2025;38():-.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Soleimani F and Habibi R and Arfaeinia H and Masjedi MR and Tahmasbizadeh M and Dadipoor S and Ebrahimi Kalan M and Zahedi A}, title = {Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco}, journal = {Environmental Technology and Innovation}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {-}, year = {2025} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Soleimani F AU - Habibi R AU - Arfaeinia H AU - Masjedi MR AU - Tahmasbizadeh M AU - Dadipoor S AU - Ebrahimi Kalan M AU - Zahedi A TI - Unseen Threats: Microplastic Presence in Waterpipe Tobacco JO - Environmental Technology and Innovation VL - 38 IS - SP - EP - PY - 2025 ER -

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