TRACE-ELEMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN CIGARETTE TOBACCO BY INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

In order to determine hazardous effects of smoking five different bran ds of Indian cigarette tobacco including its ash and smoke, three bran ds of bidi (a typical of Indian subcontinent) and two of chewing tobac co have been analysed for 24 elements (As, Be, Br, Ca, Ce, Cc, Cr, Cs, Cu, Eu, Fe, Hg, K, Hf, La, Na, P, Rb, Sb,Sc, Se, Sr,Th and Zn) by ins trumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). A simple and indigeneous smoking device has been developed. A mean ash content of 16.5 +/- 1.1 % was obtained for different brands of cigarettes whereas smoke conten t uas found to be 4.8 +/- 0.8%. It is observed that most elements are retained in ash and a few are transferred to smoke. Percent amount of elements retained in ash and transferred to smoke condensate have been calculated. Significant amounts of Sb, Hg, Co, Se and Zn are transfer red to smoke but >90% of Ca, Fe, Sr and Cr are retained in ash. A comp arison of elemental contents with the cigarette tobacco from other cou ntries shows comparable amounts for most elements except few minor var iations attributable to local soil characteristics. Most elemental con tents in bidi and chewing tobacco are comparable except Sr, Cr, Na, Se and Sr which are higher in chewing tobacco but its Ca content is lowe r. Standard Reference Materials Bowen's Kale, Kentucky Reference Cigar ette and Citrus Leaves (SRM 1572) along with a newly developed tobacco CRH OTL-1 from Poland were also analysed.