Sea Shepherd reports tallying littered items from their clean ups have found cigarette filters to be the most littered item exponentially. Most cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic which does not biodegrade. Reseach conducted by the World Health Organisation on the environmental impact of tabacco states:

“The cigarette filters may break…eventually leaching out some of the 7000 chemicals…many of these chemicals are themselves environmentally toxic, amd at least 50 are known human carcinogens (201)…Harmful chemicals such as nicotine, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals leach from discarded tobacco product waste, and can be acutely toxic to aquatic organisms such as fish (202, 203)…cigarette butts soaked in either fresh or salt water for 96 hours have a lethal concentration that killed half the exposed test fish (204).” (Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2017).

Sea Shepard also reported that this plastic has been found in aproximately 70% of seabirds and 30% of turtles.

Usually considered so insignificant by the general public, these filters arent even worth disposing of correctly. Ironic, as they have the potential to kill the environment and animals around us.

Busts immortalise status and human achievement, and can hold both cultural and historical significance. The material and subject matter seem to exist in opposition. Merging the two demonstrates this is not the case. Value is fluid, contextual and merely a perception. We have the ability to re-evaluate how we prescribe value and what is considered waste, and we must take action.