Evaluation of trace metals in tobacco of local and imported cigarette brands used in Pakistan by spectrophotometer through microwave digestion

Abstract

Uncontrolled exposure of active and passive smokers to trace metals causes increase in health risks. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether local and imported cigarette brands used in Pakistan, have elevated levels of metals or not. Six metals manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined in tobacco of twenty cigarette brands (local and imported) used in Pakistan by flame atomic absorption Spectrophotometry. To overcome contamination chances and for complete digestion of analytes a microwave digester was used. The analytical results showed highest concentration of Mn (84.78 µg/g dry weight), Cd (0.525 µg/g dry weight) and Zn (14.34 µg/g dry weight) metals in imported brands in relation to counterparts from the local brands. Certain elevated levels were observed for Co (3.344 µg/g dry weight), Pb (14.16 µg/g dry weight) and Cu (7.889 µg/g dry weight) metals in local brands. The inter-metal relationships in the tobacco of local and imported cigarette brands showed some integrated variation in the selected metal levels. In view of health risk associated with the above metals, there should be a strict quality control over monitoring of heavy metals during growing, processing and smoking of tobacco. Therefore, it is prudent to minimize exposure to toxic substances whenever possible because smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke is a confounder to be taken into account when carrying out epidemiological studies on human exposure to metals.