Heavy metals in cigarettes for sale in Spain

• Published in: Environmental research 2015-11, Vol.143 (Pt A), p.162-169
• Main Authors: Rubio Armendáriz, Carmen, Garcia, Tiago, Soler, Alfredo, Gutiérrez Fernández, Ángel José, Glez-Weller, Dailos, Luis González, Gara, de la Torre, Arturo Hardisson, Revert Gironés, Consuelo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Cadmium; Chromium; Cigarettes; Heavy metals; Inhalation; Lead (metal); Limit of Detection; Manganese; Marketing; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Nickel; Spain; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Tobacco; Tobacco Products - analysis; Tobacco Products - classification
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.10.003

The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of eight metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr) in 33 cigarette brands for sale in Spain. Samples were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Mean values obtained were 428µg Al/g, 0.810µg Cd/g, 0.558 µg Co/g, 1.442µg Cr/g, 112.026µg Mn/g, 2.238µg Ni/g, 0.602µg Pb/g and 82.206µg Sr/g. Statistically significant differences were observed with respect to concentrations of Co (0.004), Cr (0.045), Mn (0.005) and Sr (0.005) between black and blond tobacco and between levels of Mn (0.027) among manufacturers. Considering a Cd inhalation rate of 10% and a Cd absorption rate of 50%, absorption of Cd for smokers of 30 cigarettes/day was estimated at 0.75µg Cd/day. An inhalation rate of 2–6% and an absorption rate of 86% were considered for Pb, Pb absorption in smokers of 30 cigarettes/day was therefore 0.18–0.54μg/day. In view of the significant toxic effects of these metals, quantification and control of their concentrations in this drug are of the utmost importance. •Smoking represents a hazardous exposure to toxic heavy metals.•Metals were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).•Cr and Mn are present in greater concentrations in Virginia tobacco.•Sr is observed in a greater concentration in Dark tobacco.•Necessary information is not available in the commercial presentation of this product.