International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Heavy Metal Content in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke of Common Cigarettes Sold in Kenya, and their Toxicological Consequences

    , , , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Physical and Biological Sciences, Moi University, P.O Box 3900, Eldoret, KENYA
  • 2 Department of Chemistry, Egerton University, P.O Box 536, Egerton, KENYA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 4, Issue (6), Pages 75-79, June,22 (2015)

Abstract

Over the years tobacco research has focused heavily on the toxic organic components of cigarette smoke while giving little attention to the toxicological implications caused by heavy metals in mainstream cigarette smoking. Whereas, it is not in doubt that organic toxins and their corresponding free radicals are directly responsible for a myriad of problems affecting smokers, the clinical effects caused by heavy metals in tobacco burning cannot be ignored. Accordingly, this study investigates the heavy metal content in the gas-phase mainstream cigarette smoke of common cigarettes sold in Kenya and their toxicological implications. Two cigarette brands (SM1 and ES1), and one traditional cigarette (Trd) were selected for this study. To mimic actual cigarette smoking conditions, smoking apparatus were designed according to ISO 3402:1999 standards. Five conditioned cigarettes were smoked per sample. All experiments were conducted in replicates to enhance reproducibility of data. The heavy metal content was determined using atomic absorption spectrometer, AAS, (Shimadzu 6200). The mean results showed that lead had the highest concentration in all cigarette brands; 6.776±0.02, 6.984±0.03 and 7.119±0.0.05 µgg-1 for traditional (Trd), SM1, and ES1 cigarettes respectively. On the other hand, the lowest heavy metal concentration was cadmium with respectively 0.084±0.004, 0.090±0.002, and 0.030±0.002 µgg-1 for SM1, ES1, and traditional cigarettes. Moreover, chromium, copper, and zinc were also investigated. The concentration of lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, and zinc partitioned in the cigarette ash of each cigarette blend is also reported in this work.

References

  1. Kibet J.K., Mathenge A.B., Limo S.C. and Omare M.O., Theoretical Modeling and Experimental Investigation of Propanol and Phenol in Mainstream Cigarette Smoking, The African Review of Physics, 251-258 (2014)
  2. Zhou S., Wang C., Xu Y. and Hu Y., The pyrolysis of cigarette paper under the conditions that simulate cigarette smouldering and puffing, J. Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 104, 1097-1106 (2011)
  3. Ghosh A. et al., Toxicology, J.tox, 292, 78 (2012)
  4. Iwuoha G.N., Oghu E.I. and Onwuacu U.I., Levels of selected heavy metals in some brands of Cigarettes marketed in University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ajol., 17, 561-564 (2013)
  5. Kazi T.G. et al., Evaluation of toxic metals in blood and urine samples of chronic renal failure patients, before and after dialysis, Renal failure, 30, 737-745 (2008)
  6. Espinoza E., Escudero R. and Tavera F., Waste Water Treatment by Precipitating Copper, Lead and Nickel Species, Research Journal of Recent Sciences, (2012)
  7. Harun Ç. and Ali Ö., Determination of Iron, Copper, Cadmium and Zinc in Some Cigarette Brands in Turkey, International Journal of Science and Technology, 29-32 (2007)
  8. Afridi H.I. et al., Evaluation of cadmium, lead, nickel and zinc status in biological samples of smokers and nonsmokers hypertensive patients, Journal of Human Hypertension, 24, 34-43 (2010)
  9. Rangnekar S., Sahu S., Pandit G. and Gaikwad V., Study of Uptake of Pb and Cd by Three Nutritionally Important Indian Vegetables Grown in Artificially Contaminated Soils of Mumbai, India, International Research Journal of Environment Science, 1-5 (2013)
  10. Tiwari S., Tiwari H.L. and Tripathi I.P., Lead Effects on Health, Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., 83-87 (2013)
  11. Ajab H. et al., Evaluation of trace metals in tobacco of local and imported cigarette brands used in Pakistan by spectrophotometer through microwave digestion, The Journal of Toxicological Sciences, 33, 415-420 (2008)
  12. Medici V. et al., Metallothionein and antioxidant enzymes in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats treated with zinc, Archives of toxicology, 76, 509-516 (2002)
  13. Ashish B., Neeti K. and Himanshu K., Copper toxicity: a comprehensive study, Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 2502 (2013)
  14. Solidum J., Lead, Cadmium and Chromium in Selected Local Cigarettes Available in the Philippines, International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 205-208 (2013)
  15. Agency for toxic substances and disease registry, A. chromium toxicity, (2008)
  16. Nwajei G., Okwagi P., Nwajei R. and Obi-Iyeke G., Analytical assessment of trace elements in soils, tomato leaves and fruits in the vicinity of paint industry, Nigeria, Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 22-26 (2012)
  17. El-Agha O. and Gökmen ., Smoking habits and cadmium intake in Turkey, Biol Trace Elem Res., 88, 31-43 (2002)
  18. Chiba M. and Masironi R., Toxic and trace elements in tobacco and tobacco smoke, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 70, 269 (1992)
  19. Husgavfel-Pusiainen K, Mutation Research, 567, 447 (2004)
  20. Demarini D.M, Mutation Reseach, 567, 447 (2004)
  21. Eyre H. et al., Preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes: a common agenda for the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association, Circulation, 109, 3244-3255 (2004)
  22. Pappas R.S., Polzin G.M., Watson C.H. and Ashley D.L., Cadmium, lead, and thallium in smoke particulate from counterfeit cigarettes compared to authentic US brands, Food and Chemical Toxicology, 45, 202-209 (2007)
  23. Chalouhi N. et al., Cigarette Smoke and Inflammation: Role in Cerebral Aneurysm Formation and Rupture, Mediators of Inflammation,12, (2012)
  24. Abdulkadir Levent, Yavuz Yardim and Demir., C. Determination of Trace Metal and Mineral Levels in the Tobacco and Cigarette samples using by FASS, J.Chem.Soc.Pak, 35, 257-261 (2013)
  25. Baker R.R. and Bishop L.J., The pyrolysis of tobacco ingredients, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 71, 223-311 (2004)
  26. WHO, Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise, (2006)
  27. Christian G.D., Analytical chemistry. 6th edn, (John Willy and Sons 2005) (2015)
  28. Stephen N.M., Goom L.K., Flora M.B., Holow C.D. andAndy X.J., Contamination of Sedimentby leads, cadmium and zinc, Environmental Pollution, 60-79 (2003)
  29. Feng J.W., Zheng S.K. and Maciel G.E., EPR investigations of charring and char/air interaction of cellulose, pectin, and tobacco, Energy and Fuels, 18, 560-568 (2004)