Cadmium concentrations in tobacco and tobacco smoke

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(83)90050-7· OSTI ID:5434260

Scherer, G; Barkemeyer, H

The amount of cadmium in tobacco depends on the variety and origin of the plant as well as on the analytical method used to determine cadmium. In the literature, cadmium concentrations in tobacco of between 0.5 and 5 ppm are reported. Modern German cigarette tobacco contains about 0.5-1.5 micrograms cadmium/cigarette. Of importance for the smoker is the amount of the metal in the mainstream smoke. The cadmium level in the mainstream smoke of modern cigarettes is reduced by means of filters and other construction features. The average Cd value of German filter cigarettes is less than 0.1 microgram/cigarette in mainstream smoke. An average daily intake of about 1 microgram cadmium by smoking 20 cigarettes can be calculated on the basis of an experimentally proved pulmonary retention rate of 50%. Pulmonary resorption rates relevant to uptake rates of cadmium by smoking are discussed. It can be assumed that cadmium uptake by smoking modern cigarettes has been reduced because of modifications in tobacco processing and cigarette construction in the last few decades.

• Research Organization: Verband der Cigarettenindustrie, Hamburg, West Germany
• OSTI ID: 5434260
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States), Vol. 7:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
UPTAKE
TOBACCO
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
TOBACCO SMOKES
LUNGS
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
AEROSOLS
BODY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
METALS
ORGANS
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SMOKES
SOLS
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560306 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)