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Effects of Toxicants and Emerging Pollutants from Cigarette Filters and Smoking on Female and Male Fertility Indicators: A Scoping Review with Identification of Research Gaps
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Soraya Amiri Sabouri1    , Maryam Zali Baharvand1 , Forugh Aleebrahim *2 |
1- Student Research Committee, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran
2- MSc in Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Torbat-e Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat-e Jam, Iran , forugha07@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (70 Views) |
Background and Objectives: Cigarette filters and discarded cigarette butts contain thousands of chemicals, including heavy metals and cellulose acetate microplastics, which are increasingly recognized as emerging environmental pollutants. However, evidence linking these contaminants to reproductive outcomes remains fragmented and heterogeneous. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on the effects of cigarette-related toxicants and filter-derived pollutants on fertility indicators in women and men, and to identify key research gaps.
Materials and Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the five-stage framework of Arksey and O’Malley and reported following the PRISMA-ScR guideline. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as the Iranian databases SID and Magiran, was performed for studies published from January 1986 to March 2025 using a combination of MeSH terms and free-text keywords. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Eligible sources included primary studies and evidence syntheses examining cigarette toxicants, filter-related compounds, and fertility-related outcomes.
Results: Of 61,596 titles/abstracts screened, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence suggested that toxic constituents and heavy metals (notably cadmium, lead, and nicotine), through oxidative stress, sperm DNA fragmentation, and endocrine disruption, are associated with reduced sperm concentration and motility in men, and diminished ovarian reserve (lower anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH]) and accelerated follicular apoptosis in women. While ecotoxicological studies have established the toxicity of cigarette-butt leachates and filter-related compounds, direct epidemiologic evidence on chronic environmental exposure to cigarette-butt pollutants in humans is scarce; existing human evidence largely reflects active smoking or secondhand smoke exposure rather than long-term, low-level environmental contact.
Conclusion: Cigarette-derived toxicants and filter-retained compounds represent important risk factors for reproductive health in both sexes. A major research gap is the limited human evidence on systemic exposure to microplastics and pollutants released from cigarette butts into the environment and their potential reproductive effects. Future work should prioritize well-designed prospective cohort studies and biomarker-based exposure assessments.
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| Keywords: Cigarette butt, Cigarette filter, Emerging pollutants, Reproductive health, Semen quality, Ovarian reserve, Scoping review |
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Full-Text [PDF 671 kb]
(35 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
health
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