Inhalation of Po-210 and Pb-210 from cigarette smoking in Poland

The carcinogenic effect of Po-210 and Pb-210 with respect to lung cancer is an important problem in many countries with very high cigarette consumptio n. Poland has one of the highest consumptions of cigarettes in the world. T he results of Po-210 determination on the 14 most frequently smoked brands of cigarettes which constitute over 70% of the total cigarette consumption in Poland are presented and discussed. Moreover, the polonium content in ci garette smoke was estimated on the basis of its activity in fresh tobaccos, ash, fresh filters and post-smoking filters. The annual effective doses we re calculated on the basis of Po-210 and Pb-210 inhalation with the cigaret te smoke. The results of this work indicate that Polish smokers who smoke o ne pack (20 cigarettes) per day inhale from 20 to 215 mBq of Po-210 and Pb- 210 each. The mean values of the annual effective dose for smokers were est imated to be 35 and 70 mu Sv from Po-210 and Pb-210, respectively, For pers ons who smoke two packs of cigarettes with higher radionuclide concentratio ns, the effective dose is much higher (471 mu Sv yr(-1)) in comparison with the intake in diet. Therefore, cigarettes and the absorption through the r espiratory system are the main sources and the principal pathway of Po-210 and Pb-210 intake of smokers in Poland. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.