**5. Conclusion**

*Ion Beam Techniques and Applications*

Indian cigarettes which was 0.4 μg/g (**Table 4**).

into the food chain through agricultural practices [21].

after their application [21].

in manures and many pesticides, so it becomes easily a part of the environment

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

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

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

**96**

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 in tobacco of cigarettes.
