Ion Beam Analysis

**87**

**Chapter 6**

Emission

*and Tingkai Zhao*

metals present in tobacco of cigarettes.

**1. Introduction**

**Keywords:** toxic metals, PIXE, tobacco, human health, Pakistan

Smoking of different tobacco products is increasing rapidly throughout the world. Smoking causes many health problems. Cigarette consumption is one of the major reasons for mortality in the world. During the tobacco plantation, various kinds of pesticides, fungicides and herbicide are used to cope with the different diseases and parasites [1]. Galazyn-Sidorczuk et al. [2] also stated that tobacco plant has a high tendency to uptake metals from soils and accumulate them in leaves. Tobacco plants can normally accumulate metals like Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, and Cu that comes in cigarettes which are variable in the concentration of metals in soil and applied chemicals; tobacco plant have different levels of metals in different

**Abstract**

Investigation of Toxic Metals in the

Tobacco of Pakistani Cigarettes

Using Proton-Induced X-Ray

*Iram Mahmood, Sadaqat Khan, Waheed Akram,* 

*Raphael M. Obodo, Tariq Mehmood, Ishaq Ahmad* 

A particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) study has been carried out to find out whether available local and imported cigarette brands in Pakistan have elevated concentration of metals or not. The results are compared within the brands examined in this study and with the results of related studies in literature. A sum of 19 different cigarette brands was purchased randomly from different Pakistani markets which included local and imported brands. The concentration of elements like Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Co was investigated. Results showed that different cigarette brands have different metal contents. The mean concentration of the heavy metals is Cd—4.92 μg/g, Co—0.12 μg/g, Cu—0.97 μg/g, Ni—0.13 μg/g, Pb—1.02 μg/g, and Zn—12.91 μg/g per dry weight. Compared with the reported results of other international studies, Pakistani cigarettes are observed to have lower heavy metal contents except for cadmium which was higher. This study will provide adequate data for all concerned departments. This study will also create awareness among people about the toxicity of
