Ecotoxicological effects of leachate from e-cigarettes and e-liquid on the performance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

Once littered, disposable e-cigarettes present a complex type of waste  in the environment. They typically contain a lithium battery,  electronics to produce vapour and remnant e-liquid, all of which could  leach into the environment. The effects of littered e-cigarettes are not  well understood, and they have not been tested in terrestrial  ecosystems. To address this, an experiment was set up to assess how  leachate from e-cigarettes with or without a battery, but also e-liquid  on its own can alter fundamental physical characteristics of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) when irrigated with contaminated water. After 31 days, shoot length of L. perenne  was not measurably affected, but the biomass was significantly reduced  by 30% when e-liquid, and 24% when leachate from intact e-cigarettes was  present compared to control plants. Plants grown with leachate or  e-liquid displayed a significant level of early senescence of leaf  apices, and the chlorophyll content was increased. Furthermore, root  biomass was significantly less (29–46%) compared to the control.  Leachate from used disposable e-cigarettes can affect the performance of  plants when entering the soil ecosystem, therefore stricter regulations  are needed to prevent this new type of electronic litter from becoming  more widespread.