Studies On Levels Of Trace Metals In Cigarette Sold In Ethiopia

A significant flux of heavy metals, among other toxins, reaches the lungs throughrnsmoking. This project reports the heavy metal concentrations in tobacco from samples ofrn11 cigarette products, sold in Ethiopia. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zincrn(Zn) contents were determined in 11 brands of tobacco cigarette commonly available inrnEthiopia by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentration of trace metals inrnthe cigarettes ranged, Cd, from 1.3 to 7.6 μg/g with mean 2.48 ± 0.32 μg/g, Pb, 0.50 torn12.50 μg/g with mean 6.24 ± 2.2 μg/g, Cu, 2.89 to 25.35 μg/g with mean 13.70 ± 4.12rnμg/g, and Zn, 24.40 to 62.55 μg/g with mean 36.22 ± 7.50 μg/g. Comparable results ofrntrace metals are obtained in both imported and Ethiopian cigarettes. The average tracernmetal contents of cigarettes available in Ethiopia are Cd, 1.82 ± 0.39, Pb, 4.23 ± 0.97, Cu,rn10.22 ± 3.15 and Zn, 28.18 ± 7.81 μg/cigarette and a person who smokes 20 cigarettesrnper day is estimated to increase his/her daily Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn retention byrnapproximately 0.036, 0.085, 0.204, 0.564 mg/day, respectively. The results indicate thatrnsmoking and exposure to cigarette smoke is a serious problem to be taken into accountrnwhen carrying out epidemiological studies on human exposure to trace metalsrnKey words: Cigarette tobacco, Trace metals, Ethiopia, Wet digestion, Atomic absorptionrnspectrometry

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