**4. Results and discussion**

The quantitative analysis of tobacco of various imported and local cigarettes, purchased in Pakistan, was performed with the help of PIXE. The consequences of standard reference material for tobacco were in great concurrence with the certified values for compound components given in **Table 1**. In this study concentration of chemical elements including copper, lead, cadmium, ferric, manganese, zinc, nickel, sulfur, etc. was analyzed. **Figures 6–8** show the typical PIXE spectrum of NIST 1515 apple leaf and different tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator of the National Centre for Physics, Islamabad.

The toxic elements obtained from tobacco of different brands exhibited a large elemental concentration fluctuation. The order of the concentration of metals in local brands is Fe>Mn >Zn >Cd >Pb >Cu >Ni >Co. And the order of concentration of metals in imported brands is as Fe >Mn>Zn>Cd>Co>Cu >Pb>Ni. The outcomes of toxic elements in the tobacco of cigarettes were denoted as mean ± standard deviation as shown in **Tables 2** and **3**.

Lead is a very toxic metal even in very small concentration. Smoking is a key source of lead inhaled by human; thereby, it is more important to eradicate its contribution to overall lead load in humans. The past implementation of various policies has a successfully reduced lead level in the environment especially in the case of reduction of lead emissions origination from petrol, which has been reduced currently by utilization of unleaded petrol. It was estimated a sum of 50% total lead taken up by humans comes from petrol-originated emissions besides its ingestion of lead through the food chain is also important to be investigated [15]. It is widely admitted that cigarette contains about 1.2 μg lead, and approximately 6% passes over to mainstream smoke [7]. The current study showed the average concentration of lead in the tobacco of local cigarettes was 1.02 μg/g. The minimum mean concentration of lead was observed in the tobacco of Thrill which was 0.6 μg/g, and maximum concentration was 1.55 μg/g in the tobacco of Gold Leaf Special (**Table 2**). In the imported

### **Figure 6.**

*PIXE spectrum of (A) NIST 1515 apple leaf and (B) Benson & hedges tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator of the National Centre for Physics, Islamabad.*

**93**

**Figure 7.**

*accelerator.*

**Figure 8.**

*accelerator.*

*Investigation of Toxic Metals in the Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes Using Proton-Induced X-Ray…*

*PIXE spectrum of (C) Dunhill and (D) Marlboro tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem* 

cigarettes, the average concentration of lead present in the tobacco was 1.08 μg/g. The minimum concentration of lead that was observed in tobacco of imported brands was 0.67 μg/g, and maximum concentration was 1.3 μg/g (**Table 3**). Regarding the health issues, Mortada et al. [16] reported 101.6 + 30.9 μg/l and 143.7 + 33.8 blood lead levels in non-smoker and smokers, respectively. On the other hand, lead serum levels reported by Satarug et al. [17] in nonsmokers and smokers are 4.2 + 5.4 μg/l and 9.0 + 12, respectively. The variation of lead concentration between serum and blood is due to the fact that lead in the circulation is chiefly associated with erythrocytes [15]. The elimination of lead is a slow process carried out by urine resultantly; it accumulates in the skeleton. Lead is considered to be impermeable for blood and brain barriers, but the children are highly affected by neurotoxicity of lead as it accumulates in the brain and central nervous system that cause neurological disorder and mental retardation [18]. Besides it, lead accumulates in the blood of children by passive smoking due to the smoking habit of their parents. Hence protection of children from both type of smoking (i.e., active and passive) is a matter of great concern. Furthermore, peripheral arterial diseases, hypertension [19], and cataract

*PIXE spectrum of (E) gold leaf and (F) Capstan tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem* 

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84723*

*Investigation of Toxic Metals in the Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes Using Proton-Induced X-Ray… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84723*

**Figure 7.**

*Ion Beam Techniques and Applications*

**4. Results and discussion**

standard deviation as shown in **Tables 2** and **3**.

rate ensuring a less than 10% dead time at beam currents of 2–5 nA. No apparent

an energy resolution of 138 eV (FWHM) at 5:9 keV of Mn was used to detect the emitted X-rays. The PIXE data was analyzed using the computer code GUPIXWIN.

The quantitative analysis of tobacco of various imported and local cigarettes, purchased in Pakistan, was performed with the help of PIXE. The consequences of standard reference material for tobacco were in great concurrence with the certified values for compound components given in **Table 1**. In this study concentration of chemical elements including copper, lead, cadmium, ferric, manganese, zinc, nickel, sulfur, etc. was analyzed. **Figures 6–8** show the typical PIXE spectrum of NIST 1515 apple leaf and different tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator of the National Centre for Physics, Islamabad.

The toxic elements obtained from tobacco of different brands exhibited a large elemental concentration fluctuation. The order of the concentration of metals in local brands is Fe>Mn >Zn >Cd >Pb >Cu >Ni >Co. And the order of concentration of metals in imported brands is as Fe >Mn>Zn>Cd>Co>Cu >Pb>Ni. The outcomes of toxic elements in the tobacco of cigarettes were denoted as mean ±

Lead is a very toxic metal even in very small concentration. Smoking is a key source of lead inhaled by human; thereby, it is more important to eradicate its contribution to overall lead load in humans. The past implementation of various policies has a successfully reduced lead level in the environment especially in the case of reduction of lead emissions origination from petrol, which has been reduced currently by utilization of unleaded petrol. It was estimated a sum of 50% total lead taken up by humans comes from petrol-originated emissions besides its ingestion of lead through the food chain is also important to be investigated [15]. It is widely admitted that cigarette contains about 1.2 μg lead, and approximately 6% passes over to mainstream smoke [7]. The current study showed the average concentration of lead in the tobacco of local cigarettes was 1.02 μg/g. The minimum mean concentration of lead was observed in the tobacco of Thrill which was 0.6 μg/g, and maximum concentration was 1.55 μg/g in the tobacco of Gold Leaf Special (**Table 2**). In the imported

*PIXE spectrum of (A) NIST 1515 apple leaf and (B) Benson & hedges tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV* 

*Pelletron Tandem accelerator of the National Centre for Physics, Islamabad.*

Si(Li) detector with

damage in samples was observed after irradiation. A 30 mm2

**92**

**Figure 6.**

*PIXE spectrum of (C) Dunhill and (D) Marlboro tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator.*

### **Figure 8.**

*PIXE spectrum of (E) gold leaf and (F) Capstan tobacco samples obtained by using 5 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator.*

cigarettes, the average concentration of lead present in the tobacco was 1.08 μg/g. The minimum concentration of lead that was observed in tobacco of imported brands was 0.67 μg/g, and maximum concentration was 1.3 μg/g (**Table 3**). Regarding the health issues, Mortada et al. [16] reported 101.6 + 30.9 μg/l and 143.7 + 33.8 blood lead levels in non-smoker and smokers, respectively. On the other hand, lead serum levels reported by Satarug et al. [17] in nonsmokers and smokers are 4.2 + 5.4 μg/l and 9.0 + 12, respectively. The variation of lead concentration between serum and blood is due to the fact that lead in the circulation is chiefly associated with erythrocytes [15]. The elimination of lead is a slow process carried out by urine resultantly; it accumulates in the skeleton. Lead is considered to be impermeable for blood and brain barriers, but the children are highly affected by neurotoxicity of lead as it accumulates in the brain and central nervous system that cause neurological disorder and mental retardation [18]. Besides it, lead accumulates in the blood of children by passive smoking due to the smoking habit of their parents. Hence protection of children from both type of smoking (i.e., active and passive) is a matter of great concern. Furthermore, peripheral arterial diseases, hypertension [19], and cataract



**Table 2.**

**95**

**Table 4.**

**Table 3.**

*Investigation of Toxic Metals in the Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes Using Proton-Induced X-Ray…*

are including in expected consequences of lead accumulation [20]. The concentration of lead in tobacco of cigarette measured at various places around the world is shown in **Table 4**. Among the 12 places shown in **Table 4**, there are nine places where the concentration of lead in tobacco of cigarette is higher as compared to this study.

Cigarette smoke has been widely studied for cadmium which is claimed as a key source of cadmium inhaled by a human. Many studies addressed the elevated level of cadmium in cigarette and cigarette smoke with the mean cadmium concentra

tion lies 0.5–1.5 mg per cigarette [15, 7]. In earth's crust, cadmium can be found in higher concentration usually combined with zinc. Usually cadmium is found as a by-product in copper, zinc, and lead extraction industries. Cadmium is also present

**Brand names Benson & Hedges Dunhill Marlboro More Mean values S** 2522.05±17.18 1700.6±108.97 1931.6±44.26 1948.7±10.82 2025.76 **Cl** 6413.2±837.07 3434.9±171.05 2429.5±188.44 2145±53.74 3605.67 **K** 12301.5±474.68 10217.6±71.56 14042.1±553.88 14911.05±979.84 12868.09 **Ca** 12167±666.8 11179.05±299.32 10629.05±556.14 14197.2±1339.97 12043.08 **Mn** 39.8±2.62 57.1±1.27 79.9±7.85 77.3±1.77 63.56 **Fe** 67.1±7.78 68.4±1.77 95.8±1.48 91±4.67 80.6 **Ni** 0.33±0.07 0.45±0.04 0.45±0.01 0.5±0.08 0.4325 **Cu** 2.3±0.57 1.1±0.0 0.75±0.13 0.41±0.04 1.14 **Zn** 15±0.14 14.4±0.99 15.8±0.57 18.8±2.12 16 **Sr** 13.3±0.64 10.9±0.71 12.35±1.77 8.8±12.52 11.36 **Ru** 0.33±0.05 0.13±0.03 0.05±0.08 0.18±0.0 0.17 **Cd** 5.8±0.64 4.8±0.28 4.65±0.78 4.2±1.27 4.87 **Sb** 0.19±0.0 0.12±0.05 0.15±0.02 0.1±0.14 0.14 **Pb** 1.3±0.07 1.1±0.14 0.67±0.17 1.3±0.0 1.08

*Metal contents (μg/g) in the tobacco samples of imported cigarette brands.*

0.9 0.74 13

1.02 1.35 7.73

0.18 0.64 4.13

1.7 1.02 2.45

1.95 1.2 9.7

2.64 2.67 12.9

0.5 14.53 7.89

0.9 4.3 39

0.45 1.94 14

2.48 6.07 12.70

**Copper Pb Cu Co Ni Zn**

4.92 1.02 0.97 0.12 0.13 12.91 Present study 2.71 2.07 9.7 4.42 17.93 27.02 Iran [28]

0.4 1.6 18 0.91 3.6 29 India [30]

– 2.23

– 0.22

– 31.9 UK [29]

– 38.5 Korea [29]

– 55.62 Jordan [34]

– 8.57 Pakistan [27]

3 39.5 India [35]

– 36.22 Ethiopia [37]

– 2.4 49.8 Germany [33]

– 8.79 27 India [36]

– China [31]

– Turkey [32]

–

–

–

–

–

–

*Comparison of metal content (μg/g) in cigarettes of present study with international studies.*


*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84723*

*Content (μg/g) of metals in tobacco of local cigarette brands.*

### *Investigation of Toxic Metals in the Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes Using Proton-Induced X-Ray… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84723*

are including in expected consequences of lead accumulation [20]. The concentration of lead in tobacco of cigarette measured at various places around the world is shown in **Table 4**. Among the 12 places shown in **Table 4**, there are nine places where the concentration of lead in tobacco of cigarette is higher as compared to this study.

Cigarette smoke has been widely studied for cadmium which is claimed as a key source of cadmium inhaled by a human. Many studies addressed the elevated level of cadmium in cigarette and cigarette smoke with the mean cadmium concentration lies 0.5–1.5 mg per cigarette [15, 7]. In earth's crust, cadmium can be found in higher concentration usually combined with zinc. Usually cadmium is found as a by-product in copper, zinc, and lead extraction industries. Cadmium is also present


### **Table 3.**

*Ion Beam Techniques and Applications*

**Ca**

**94**

**Brand name** **Cd**

**Gold Leaf Special**

**Marlboro** **Benson & Hedges**

**Press** **Red & White**

**Tender** **Bond Street**

**Thrill** **Gold Flake** **Gold Flake Style**

**Capstan** **Diplomat**

**Dunhill** **Gold Leaf** **Morven Gold**

**Mean values**

**Table 2.**

*Content (μg/g) of metals in tobacco of local cigarette brands.*

3.95±0.92 6.05±1.06

6.4±0 5.3±0.14 3.45±0.07

4.2±0.14 4.9206667

1.02134

0.96534

0.31267

40.73334

12.91334

87.78467

2.03533

3251.488

16320.74

1±0.29

0.39±0.05

0.21±0.06

34.05±1.63

11.1±0.14

106.9±8.3

0.04±0.0

3838.9±34.51

16580.6±813.03

0.82±0.02

0.81±0.26

0.23±0.05

25.1±0.0

8.2±0.57

60.9±5.7

0.08±0.0

1528.65±181.66

10615.05±260

1.35±0.07

2.9±0.14

0.76±0.07

86.8±8.34

28.55±10.7

162.45±7.6

0.36±0.0

2903±194.6

21253.8±625.51

0.95±0.07

0.25±0.09

0.18±0.01

36.2±2.55

11.4±1.13

92.7±3.5

0.06±0.0

4303.15±380.07

17061±866.35

1.35±0.35

0.58±0.09

0.18±0.02

31.95±2.33

10.6±3.82

101.9±1

0.07±0.0

3033.7±231.37

17944.05±485.15

0.89±0.04

0.17±0.06

0.13±0.04

23.4±1.84

8.1±0.85

70.35±0.6

0.06±0.0

2006.15±118.16

13235.65±133.29

5.55±1.91 6.1±5.09 6.45±.0.35

9.4±0.28 1.86±2.61

3.7±0.14

3±0.14

1.05±0.07

0.38±0.05

0.18±0.0

25.05±1.34

9.75±0.07

78.3±6.8

0.08±0.0

2125.35±159.88

13843.85±102.88

0.6±0.09

0.26±0.07

0.1±0.01

16.55±1.34

9.3±2.55

50.4±1.3

0.04±0.0

2193.95±118.44

11987.4±288.92

0.65±0.92

5.71±7.48

0.3±0.23

77.65±24.7

24.35±22.3

47.55±67

29.03±41

3046.95±130.32

15270.7±819.96

0.68±0.12

0.22±0.03

0.08±0.02

19.1±1.41

7.3±0.57

50.85±2.3

0.04±0.0

6641.4±86.13

18565.95±844.36

1.15±0.07

0.61±0.07

0.2±0.01

36.7±1.84

11.45±0.78

100.52±1.3

0.08±0.0

3514.9±151.6

18578±361.33

0.93±0.52

0.41±0.07

0.15±0.04

18.95±2.05

9.25±1.2

52.55±6.7

0.05±0.0

4201.1±3762.23

14812.7±3042.54

1.3±0.14

0.36±0.06

0.46±0.06

46.45±6.72

13.85±0.21

73.35±1.8

0.07±0.0

2932.15±566.75

19102.1±30.41

3.55±5.02 4.85±0.07

1.05±0.08

1.1±0.0

0.5±0.06

85.75±12.5

16.1±3.96

92.95±3.3

0.19±0.0

3473. 9±414.22

11743.2±238.01

1.55±0.35

0.33±0.04

1.03±0.24

47.3±0.99

14.4±1.13

175.1±4.7

0.28±0.1

3357.85±207.39

24217±1483.37

**Pb**

**Cu**

**Ni**

**Mn**

**Zn**

**Fe**

**Cr**

**Cl**

**Mean ± SD**

*Metal contents (μg/g) in the tobacco samples of imported cigarette brands.*


### **Table 4.**

*Comparison of metal content (μg/g) in cigarettes of present study with international studies.*

in manures and many pesticides, so it becomes easily a part of the environment after their application [21].

The local cigarettes had an average concentration of cadmium in tobacco which was 4.92 μg/g with standard deviation of 1.2. The minimum mean concentration of cadmium in a sample was 1.86 μg/g, and maximum concentration in a sample was 9.4 μg/g. In the imported cigarettes, the mean concentration of cadmium present in the tobacco was 4.88 μg/g with standard deviation of 0.74 (**Table 2**). The minimum concentration of cadmium observed in tobacco of imported brands was 4.2 μg/g, and maximum concentration was 5.85 μg/g (**Table 3**). The concentration of cadmium in this study is at the highest level as compared to other studies around the world (**Table 4**). The lowest cadmium concentration was observed in tobacco of Indian cigarettes which was 0.4 μg/g (**Table 4**).

Cadmium inhaled in its oxidized form as cadmium oxide while smoking. It is roughly estimated that 10% of cadmium deposit in lungs, and about 20–50% become a part of circulation [15, 7]. Cadmium accumulates in the circulation as well as deposits in kidney mainly in the cortex of the kidney by the late reaction of cadmium and metallothioneins. Although smoking generates small amount of copper which is unable to cause kidney failure, many studies stated that copper accumulates in kidney and is the main cause of renal end-stage failure and tubular dysfunction [17, 15, 18]. Many of other health disorders included emphysema, cataract, hypertension, as well as cardiovascular disease are also under investigation to know possible consequences of copper accumulation in these diseases [19, 20].

Copper mainly comes in air from fossil fuel burning and remains in the air for a long time. Usually, copper settles down in soil due to rain where it becomes bioavailable to plants. Naturally, copper comes from the soil through weathering of parent material, decaying of natural vegetation, forest fire, dust, windblown, and sea spray. Copper is also released into the environment by anthropogenic activities mainly by mining, metal production, wood production, and phosphate fertilizer. Human health is potentially affected by the soluble copper compounds which enter into the food chain through agricultural practices [21].

The concentration of copper in the tobacco of local and imported brands was observed, ranging from 0.17 to 5.71 μg/g with an average of 0.97 μg/g (**Table 2**) and from 0.41 to 2.3 μg/g with an average of 1.14 μg/g (**Table 3**), respectively. In this study, copper is at the lowest level with respect to other studies was done in different places of the world (given in **Table 4**). Long-term exposure to a higher level of copper causes decline in intelligence in young adolescents. Industrial exposure to copper fumes, dust, or mists generated by industries cause metal fumes fever and atopic retardation in nasal mucous membranes. Copper deposit in cornea and chronic copper toxicity causes various diseases like Wilson's disease, characterized by hepatic cirrhosis, renal disease, brain damage, and demyelination [22].

Nickel is present in low concentration in the environment and use in many things made by a human. Commonly nickel is used in steel and metal products as well as in jewelry [21]. The concentration of nickel in the tobacco of local and imported brands was observed, ranging from 0.08 to 1.03 μg/g with an average of 0.31 μg/g and from 0.33 to 0.5 μg/g with an average of 0.43 μg/g, respectively.

Nickel is a mutagen and carcinogen that causes many types of cancer in human especially related to the respiratory track. It induces sister chromatid exchanges by mutation [23]. Experiments showed the affected heart development in the unborn mice due to Nickel toxicity [24]. Although nickel is essential, but in excessive amount it is dangerous to health which causes sickness and enhance chances of various types of cancer like lung cancer, larynx cancer, prostate cancer, and nose cancer. Human exposure to nickel is usually through drinking water, breathing air, the food chain, and smoking of cigarettes [25]. The concentration of nickel measured in this

**97**

*Investigation of Toxic Metals in the Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes Using Proton-Induced X-Ray…*

study was at the second lowest position after concentration measured in tobacco of

adds up to human activities. There are many anthropogenic sources of zinc are present in our surrounding especially in steel production, smelting, mining, and coal and waste combustion. In many countries, zinc present in soil with very high concentration is due to mining and refining of metals and use of sewage sludge as fertilizer [21]. The mean, minimum, and maximum concentrations of zinc in tobacco of local cigarette were 12.91, 7.3, and 28.55 μg/g, respectively. In the imported cigarettes, the average concentration of zinc present in the tobacco was 16.0 μg/g, the minimum concentration of zinc observed in the tobacco of imported

brands was 14.4 μg/g and maximum concentration was 18.8 μg/g.

Zinc is present ubiquitously in nature with a variable concentration that mostly

Too much zinc can cause a number of health problems, such as vomiting, nausea, anemia, skin irritations, and stomach cramps. A large quantity of zinc disturb the protein metabolism and cause arteriosclerosis or respiratory disorders that can

The concentration of zinc measured in this study was lower as compare to measure in other studies, referred in **Table 4** except the previous study on tobacco

The available data on toxic metals in tobacco of Pakistani cigarettes was insufficient; this study will provide adequate data to all concerned departments. This study will also create awareness among people about the toxicity of metals present

The authors are thankful to the deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University and Abha Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their technical and administrative support. The Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, is gratefully acknowledged. Plagiarism has been carried out via ID 1066213984 (similarity index 13%) in

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84723*

Turkey (0.22 μg/g), given in **Table 4**.

damage the pancreas [26].

**5. Conclusion**

in tobacco of cigarettes.

**Acknowledgements**

Turnitin software.

of Pakistani cigarettes (8.57 μg/g).

*Investigation of Toxic Metals in the Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes Using Proton-Induced X-Ray… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84723*

study was at the second lowest position after concentration measured in tobacco of Turkey (0.22 μg/g), given in **Table 4**.

Zinc is present ubiquitously in nature with a variable concentration that mostly adds up to human activities. There are many anthropogenic sources of zinc are present in our surrounding especially in steel production, smelting, mining, and coal and waste combustion. In many countries, zinc present in soil with very high concentration is due to mining and refining of metals and use of sewage sludge as fertilizer [21]. The mean, minimum, and maximum concentrations of zinc in tobacco of local cigarette were 12.91, 7.3, and 28.55 μg/g, respectively. In the imported cigarettes, the average concentration of zinc present in the tobacco was 16.0 μg/g, the minimum concentration of zinc observed in the tobacco of imported brands was 14.4 μg/g and maximum concentration was 18.8 μg/g.

Too much zinc can cause a number of health problems, such as vomiting, nausea, anemia, skin irritations, and stomach cramps. A large quantity of zinc disturb the protein metabolism and cause arteriosclerosis or respiratory disorders that can damage the pancreas [26].

The concentration of zinc measured in this study was lower as compare to measure in other studies, referred in **Table 4** except the previous study on tobacco of Pakistani cigarettes (8.57 μg/g).
