Chemical analysis of tobacco cigarette for organochlorine insecticides and heavy metal composition

The effects of cigarette smoking on smokers and the environment were investigated by analyzing some cigarette brands available to Nigerian smokers for the presence of some of the widely used organochlorine (OC) pesticides and heavy metals. OC pesticide residues were extracted from tobacco smoke, sep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicological and environmental chemistry 2009-06, Vol.91 (4), p.611-618
Main Authors: Asubiojo, O.I., Adebiyi, F.M., Ayenimo, J.G., Olukoko, O.O., Oyekunle, J.A.O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AAS
heavy metal
organochlorine insecticide
TLC
tobacco
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Summary:The effects of cigarette smoking on smokers and the environment were investigated by analyzing some cigarette brands available to Nigerian smokers for the presence of some of the widely used organochlorine (OC) pesticides and heavy metals. OC pesticide residues were extracted from tobacco smoke, separated and identified using column chromatographic and thin layer chromatographic techniques respectively, while ashed and unashed commercial cigarettes were analyzed for heavy metals - Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Co using atomic absorption spectrometry. TLC data indicated that dieldrin and p,p′-DDD were present in some of the cigarette brands. The results of heavy metal analysis showed that the levels of some toxic heavy metals and pollution index were higher in unashed cigarettes than corresponding ashes. Evidence suggests that significant amounts of these toxic metals are inhaled by the smoker and/or released into the environment in the process of cigarette smoking, thus confirming that cigarette smoking is harmful to the environment and human health.
ISSN:0277-2248
1029-0486
DOI:10.1080/02772240802343123