MEASUREMENT OF TRACE-ELEMENT LEVELS IN KENYAN CIGARETTES WITH THE ENERGY-DISPERSIVE X-RAY-FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY TECHNIQUE

Cd-109 radioisotope-excited Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXR F) spectroscopy was optimized for light element matrix analysis and ut ilized to quantify the major, minor and particularly trace elements in a total of 35 intermediate thickness samples representing the five ma in brands of cigarettes manufactured and widely consumed in Kenya. An elemental profile differential analysis performed on Sportsman, Rosta, Champion, Sweet Menthol and Crownbird cigarette tobaccos and their as hes has constituted a procedure to study and correct for the organic d ark matrix background and scattering intensity contributions from cell ulose on the elemental sensitivities. 17 elements (K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Pb, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb and Ga) were detected in th e cigarette samples to as low as I mu g/g (Nb). Analysis of the cigare tte ashes indicated that an average of 1.7 mu g of Se, 3.4 mu g/g of G a and 3.1 mu g/g of As are completely ingested during smoking. These e lemental profiles together with the 225 mu g/g of the detected Sr, mig ht play some toxic role in the carcinogenic tendencies normally associ ated with tobacco consumption.