Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Assessment of carcinogenic heavy metal levels in Brazilian cigarettes

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several studies have associated high cancer incidence with smoking habits. According to IARC, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) are carcinogenic to humans. These metals are present in cigarettes and their levels vary according to geographical region of tobacco cultivation, fertilizer treatment, plant variety etc. This study aims to assess these metal levels in cigarettes commercialized in Brazil. Three cigarettes of each 20 different brands were individually weighed, the tobacco filling removed, and homogenized. After desiccation, samples were subjected to microwave-assisted digestion. Analyses were performed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean levels for Pb, Cd, As, Ni, and Cr were, respectively, 0.27 ± 0.054, 0.65 ± 0.091, 0.09 ± 0.024, 1.26 ± 0.449, and 1.43 ± 0.630, in micrograms per gram of tobacco. No correlation was observed between Cd and any other metal analyzed. A mild correlation (r = 0.483, p < 0.05) was observed between Pb and Cr levels. Strong significant (p < 0.01) correlations were observed between Ni and Cr (r = 0.829), Ni and As (r = 0.799), Ni and Pb (r = 0.637), and between Cr and As (r = 0.621). Chromium and Ni levels were significantly higher in cigarettes from a multinational manufacturer. Our results show a high variability in heavy metal levels in cigarettes, representing an important exposure source of smokers and passive smokers to carcinogenic substances.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afridi, H. I., Kazi, T. G., Kazi, N. G., Jamali, M. K., Arain, M. B., Sirajuddin, G. A., et al. (2010). Evaluation of cadmium, lead, nickel and zinc status in biological samples of smokers and nonsmokers hypertensive patients. Journal of Human Hypertension, 24, 34–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2005). Toxicological profile for nickel. Atlanta: U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajab, H., Yasmeen, S., Yaqub, A., Ajab, Z., Muhammad, J., Siddique, M., et al. (2008). Evaluation of trace metals in tobacco of local and imported cigarette brands used in Pakistan by spectrophotometer through microwave digestion. Journal of Toxicological Sciences, 33(4), 415–420.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bae, J. M., Lee, M. S., Shin, M. H., Kim, D. H., Li, Z. M., & Ahn, Y. O. (2007). Cigarette smoking and risk of lung cancer in Korean men: The Seoul male cancer cohort study. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 22, 508–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baena-Cagnani, C. E., Gómez, R. M., Baena-Cagnani, R., & Canonica, G. W. (2009). Impact of environmental tobacco smoke and active tobacco smoking on the development and outcomes of asthma and rhinitis. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 9, 136–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlini, E. A., Galduróz, J. C. F., Noto, A. R., & Nappo, S. A. (2002). I levantamento domiciliar sobre o uso de drogas psicotrópicas no Brasil: estudo envolvendo as 107 maiores cidades do país—2001. CEBRID; SENAD.

  • Chang, M. J., Walker, K., McDaniel, R. L., & Connell, C. T. (2005). Impaction collection and slurry sampling for the determination of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in sidestream cigarette smoke by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 7, 1349–1354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chasin, A. A. M., & Cardoso, L. M. N. (2003). Cádmio. In: F. A. Azevedo, & A. A. M. Chasin (Eds.), Metais: Gerenciamento da Toxicidade (pp. 263–298). São Paulo: Atheneu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dube, M. F., & Green, C. R. (1982). Methods of collections of smoke for analytical purposes. Recent Advances in Tobacco Science, 8, 42–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erhardt, L. (2009). Cigarette smoking: An undertreated risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis, 205(1), 23–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galazyn-Sidorezuk, M., Brzóska, M. M., & Moniuszko-Jakoniuk, J. (2008). Estimation of polish cigarettes contamination with cadmium and lead, and exposure to these metals via smoking. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 137, 481–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guindon, G. E., & Boisclair, D. (2003). Past, current and future trends in tobacco use. HNP Discussion Paper, Economics of Tobacco Control Paper no. 6, Tobacco Free Initiative, World Health Organization.

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2009). Agents reviewed by the IARC monographs: volumes 1-100A.

  • Kazi, T. G., Jalbani, N., Arian, M. B., Jamali, M. K., Afridi, H. I., Sarfraz, R. A., et al. (2009). Toxic metals distribution in different components of Pakistani and imported cigarettes by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 163, 302–307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazi, T. G., Wadhwa, S. K., Afridi, H. I., Kazi, N., Kandhro, G. A., Baig, J. A., et al. (2010). Interaction of cadmium and zinc in biological samples of smokers and chewing tobacco female mouth cancer patients. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 176, 985–991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lugon-Moulin, N., Martin, F., Krauss, M. R., Ramey, P. B., & Rossi, L. (2006). Cadmium concentration in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) from different countries and its relationship with other elements. Chemosphere, 63, 1074–1096.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machado Neto, A. S., & Cruz, A. A. (2003). Tabagismo em amostra de adolescentes escolares de Salvador-Bahia. J Penoumol, 29(5), 264–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navas-Acien, A., Selvin, E., Sharrett, A. R., Calderon-Aranda, E., Silbergeld, E., & Guallar, E. (2004). Lead, cadmium, smoking, and increased risk of peripheral arterial disease. Circulation, 109, 3196–3201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nnorom, I. C., Osibanjo, O., & Oji-Nnorom, C. G. (2005). Cadmium determination in cigarettes available in Nigeria. Africana Journal of Biotechnology, 4(10), 1128–1132.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavlovska, I., Orovchanec, N., & Zafirova-Ivanovska, B. (2008). Lung cancer and the smoking habit—Case control study. Prilozi, 29(2), 269–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soares, C. R. F. S., Accioly, A. M. A., Marques, T. C. L. L. S. M., Siqueira, J. O., & Moreira, F. M. S. (2001). Acúmulo e distribuição de metais pesados nas raízes, caule e folhas de mudas de árvores em solo contaminado por rejeitos de indústria de zinco. Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia Vegetal, 13(3), 302–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stabbert, R., Voncken, P., Rustemeier, K., Haussmann, H. J., Roemer, E., Schaffernicht, H., et al. (2003). Toxicological evaluation of an electrically heated cigarette. Part 2: Chemical composition of mainstream smoke. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 23, 329–339.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stavrides, J. C. (2006). Lung carcinogenesis: Pivotal role of metals in tobacco smoke. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 41, 1017–1030.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, W. E., Calder, A., & Newton, J. (2005). Source and health implications of high toxic metal concentrations in illicit tobacco products. Environmental Science & Technology, 39, 479–488.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torjussen, W., Zachariasen, H., & Andersen, I. (2003). Cigarette smoking and nickel exposure. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 5, 198–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torrence, K. M., McDaniel, R. L., Self, D. A., & Chang, M. J. (2002). Slurry sampling for the determination of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in mainstream cigarette smoke condensate by graphite furnace–atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 372, 723–731.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. EPA (1992). Respiratory health effects of passive smoking: Lung cancer and other disorders (p. 525). Washington D.C.: Office of Health and Environmental Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zulfiqar, S., Shabbir, S., Ishaq, M., Shaukat, M. S., & Sarwar, M. I. (2006). Metal distribution in Pakistani and foreign brands of cigarette ash. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 77, 679–686.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jose Antonio Menezes-Filho.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Viana, G.F.d.S., Garcia, K.S. & Menezes-Filho, J.A. Assessment of carcinogenic heavy metal levels in Brazilian cigarettes. Environ Monit Assess 181, 255–265 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1827-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1827-3

Keywords

Navigation