CONCENTRATIONS OF CADMIUM AND LEAD IN DIFFERENT CIGARETTE BRANDS AND HUMAN EXPOSURE TO THESE METALS VIA SMOKING

Abstract

The concentration of Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in different cigarette brands sold and/or produced in Saudi Arabia were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Average levels of Cd and Pb in different cigarette brands in Saudi Arabia were 1.81 and 2.46 µg g-1(dry weight), respectively. The results obtained in this study estimate the average quantity of Cd inhaled from smoking one packet of 20 cigarettes to be in the range of 0.22-0.78 µg. Results suggest that the quantity of Pb inhaled of smoking one packet of 20 cigarettes, is estimated to be 0.97-2.64 µg. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in cigarettes were significantly different between cigarette
brands tested. The results of the present study were compared with other regional and international studies.