US EPA

1427199 

Journal Article 

Determination of the uranium content in some Indian cigarettes 

Chakarvarti, SK; Dhiman, J; Nagpaul, KK 

1979 

Yes 

Health Physics
ISSN: 0017-9078
EISSN: 1538-5159 

HEEP/80/01211 

36 

5 

638-640 

English 

489318 

HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Data from several studies have shown that tobacco smoking is a potential cause of (human) bladder and bronchial lung cancer. Studies were undertaken to detect and estimate the average natural U content of Indian cigarette tobacco using a particle track etch technique. The results indicate the average U content of some Indian cigarette tobacco. The distribution of U in the samples was not uniform, as evidenced by the large number of track clusters (sunbursts) formed in the detectors; but this is very common in plants. Thus, it was necessary to calculate an average value for total U content. Further studies on the U content in cigarette tobacco may be useful in determining whether some of the U content accompanies the particulate material of cigarette smoke. Such studies may also show the significance of the U content as compared to the previously measured 210Po content. This information may prove to be significant in understanding the cause of tongue cancer in tobacco chewers.