Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols

An emerging area of research is the impact of tobacco product waste (TPW) on the environment. Waste product assessment is of great interest to public health professionals and communities, and methods to collect waste products can easily lend themselves to community participation. Indeed, waste produ...

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Main Authors: Allison A. Temourian, Arturo Durazo, Meggan M. Jordan, José R. Díaz-Garayúa, Marc W. Beutel, Anna V. Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/3/53
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author Allison A. Temourian
Arturo Durazo
Meggan M. Jordan
José R. Díaz-Garayúa
Marc W. Beutel
Anna V. Song
author_facet Allison A. Temourian
Arturo Durazo
Meggan M. Jordan
José R. Díaz-Garayúa
Marc W. Beutel
Anna V. Song
author_sort Allison A. Temourian
collection DOAJ
description An emerging area of research is the impact of tobacco product waste (TPW) on the environment. Waste product assessment is of great interest to public health professionals and communities, and methods to collect waste products can easily lend themselves to community participation. Indeed, waste product collection can mobilize communities, but a standard methodology for collecting and assessing waste does not exist. This study utilizes two existing protocols for TPW collections across residential environments to determine the operational usability of these methods for citizen scientists (i.e., ease, time, and process of data collection). Citizen scientists surveyed two residential areas in Central California using two debris survey protocols (A and B). After waste products were recorded, citizen scientists were interviewed on their views about and experience with both protocols. Both protocols had strengths and suggested areas of improvement. This area of investigation is well suited to the citizen scientist approach of data collection, particularly in areas with fewer available resources. Moreover, this work can be utilized to motivate tobacco control efforts by highlighting how community-based TPW collection methods can support tobacco prevention and promote effective policy enforcement, with the ultimate goal of protecting community and environmental health.
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language English
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record_format Article
series Urban Science
spelling doaj-art-c1c41598088242b2be994ba237dcbbf62025-08-20T01:49:04ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-02-01935310.3390/urbansci9030053Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two ProtocolsAllison A. Temourian0Arturo Durazo1Meggan M. Jordan2José R. Díaz-Garayúa3Marc W. Beutel4Anna V. Song5Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94117, USANicotine and Cannabis Policy Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USACollege of the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 95382, USACollege of the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 95382, USAEnvironmental Systems Graduate Group, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USANicotine and Cannabis Policy Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USAAn emerging area of research is the impact of tobacco product waste (TPW) on the environment. Waste product assessment is of great interest to public health professionals and communities, and methods to collect waste products can easily lend themselves to community participation. Indeed, waste product collection can mobilize communities, but a standard methodology for collecting and assessing waste does not exist. This study utilizes two existing protocols for TPW collections across residential environments to determine the operational usability of these methods for citizen scientists (i.e., ease, time, and process of data collection). Citizen scientists surveyed two residential areas in Central California using two debris survey protocols (A and B). After waste products were recorded, citizen scientists were interviewed on their views about and experience with both protocols. Both protocols had strengths and suggested areas of improvement. This area of investigation is well suited to the citizen scientist approach of data collection, particularly in areas with fewer available resources. Moreover, this work can be utilized to motivate tobacco control efforts by highlighting how community-based TPW collection methods can support tobacco prevention and promote effective policy enforcement, with the ultimate goal of protecting community and environmental health.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/3/53tobacco product wasteenvironmentcitizen sciencecommunity engaged research
spellingShingle Allison A. Temourian
Arturo Durazo
Meggan M. Jordan
José R. Díaz-Garayúa
Marc W. Beutel
Anna V. Song
Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols
Urban Science
tobacco product waste
environment
citizen science
community engaged research
title Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols
title_full Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols
title_fullStr Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols
title_full_unstemmed Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols
title_short Citizen Science to Collect Tobacco Waste: Exploring the Usability of Two Protocols
title_sort citizen science to collect tobacco waste exploring the usability of two protocols
topic tobacco product waste
environment
citizen science
community engaged research
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/3/53
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