Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
Biology and Chemistry
Student Year and Major
2025 Bachelors of Science in Nursing
Organization, if requesting a table
Bethune-Cookman University
Presentation Description/Abstract
Marine debris, defined by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is any persistent, artificial, or processed solid material discarded into the marine and coastal environment. This growing global issue poses significant threats to marine life, coastal ecosystems, and human health. The present study aimed to assess the amount and types of marine debris, with an emphasis on cigarette butts, at two public beaches in Daytona Beach, Florida, a highly urbanized and heavily visited tourist location. Field surveys were conducted from April through July 2025 at the oceanfront beaches of Sunsplash Park and Main Street Pier using transect-based NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) protocols to collect, weigh, and categorize debris. The data were analyzed to compare sites and evaluate the impact of public holidays and tourism activity. Results indicated that cigarette butts were the most abundant form of litter, followed by plastics and food-related packaging. Sunsplash Park consistently exhibited higher debris loads, with notable spikes after weekends and holidays. For example, following the Independence Day weekend (July 7), the debris weight at Sunsplash Park reached 169.3 g, more than twice that recorded at Main Street Pier (78.9 g). Cigarette butts, although small in size, contain toxic compounds such as nicotine, arsenic, and lead, which leach into the environment and persist due to resistance to biodegradation. Their prevalence emphasizes the need to implement targeted mitigation strategies. Preventive measures, such as installing cigarette receptacles, designating smoke-free zones, and launching community awareness programs, are recommended. This work emphasizes the importance of local monitoring and county partnerships to strengthen and give importance to and contribute to a vast marine debris reduction effort.
Keywords
Marine debris, Cigarette litter, Daytona Beach, Florida
Included in
What’s on our shores? A study of marine debris and cigarette litter concentrations in Daytona Beach, FL.
Marine debris, defined by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is any persistent, artificial, or processed solid material discarded into the marine and coastal environment. This growing global issue poses significant threats to marine life, coastal ecosystems, and human health. The present study aimed to assess the amount and types of marine debris, with an emphasis on cigarette butts, at two public beaches in Daytona Beach, Florida, a highly urbanized and heavily visited tourist location. Field surveys were conducted from April through July 2025 at the oceanfront beaches of Sunsplash Park and Main Street Pier using transect-based NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) protocols to collect, weigh, and categorize debris. The data were analyzed to compare sites and evaluate the impact of public holidays and tourism activity. Results indicated that cigarette butts were the most abundant form of litter, followed by plastics and food-related packaging. Sunsplash Park consistently exhibited higher debris loads, with notable spikes after weekends and holidays. For example, following the Independence Day weekend (July 7), the debris weight at Sunsplash Park reached 169.3 g, more than twice that recorded at Main Street Pier (78.9 g). Cigarette butts, although small in size, contain toxic compounds such as nicotine, arsenic, and lead, which leach into the environment and persist due to resistance to biodegradation. Their prevalence emphasizes the need to implement targeted mitigation strategies. Preventive measures, such as installing cigarette receptacles, designating smoke-free zones, and launching community awareness programs, are recommended. This work emphasizes the importance of local monitoring and county partnerships to strengthen and give importance to and contribute to a vast marine debris reduction effort.