Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
545588 
Journal Article 
Chemical analysis of tobacco cigarette for organochlorine insecticides and heavy metal composition 
Asubiojo, OI; Adebiyi, FM; Ayenimo, JG; Olukoko, OO; Oyekunle, JAO 
2009 
1 
Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry
ISSN: 0277-2248
EISSN: 1029-0486 
91 
4 
3-4 
English 
BCI:BCI200900510823 
The effects of cigarette smoking on smokers and the environment were investigated by analyzing some cigarette brands available to Nigerian smokers for the presence of some of the widely used organochlorine (OC) pesticides and heavy metals. OC pesticide residues were extracted from tobacco smoke, separated and identified using column chromatographic and thin layer chromatographic techniques respectively, while ashed and unashed commercial cigarettes were analyzed for heavy metals - Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Co using atomic absorption spectrometry. TLC data indicated that dieldrin and p,p'-DDD were present in some of the cigarette brands. The results of heavy metal analysis showed that the levels of some toxic heavy metals and pollution index were higher in unashed cigarettes than corresponding ashes. Evidence suggests that significant amounts of these toxic metals are inhaled by the smoker and/or released into the environment in the process of cigarette smoking, thus confirming that cigarette smoking is harmful to the environment and human health. 
Article Subject Terms: Absorption; Ash; Ashes; Cadmium; Chemical; analysis; Chromium; Cigarette smoking; Copper; Data processing; Dieldrin; Environmental health; Heavy metals; Insecticides; Lead; Manganese; Metals; Organochlorine compounds; Pesticide residues; Pesticides; Pollution; Public health; Smoke; Spectrometry; Tobacco; Zinc; heavy metals; X 24380 Social Poisons & Drug Abuse; P 6000 TOXICOLOGY AND HEALTH; H 14000 Toxicology; EE 10 General Environmental Engineering