ISSN 4391-3199
African Journal of Chemistry Vol. 3 (1), pp. 080-083, January, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of heavy metals in some cigarettes and tobacco leaves in Benue State, Nigeria
Idejhe B. Victoria*, Abasa W. Racheal and Onajomor Stephanine
Department of Chemistry and Centre for Agrochemical Technology, University of Agriculture P. M. B. 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 09 July, 2013
Abstract
The concentration of heavy metals chromium, cadmium and lead (Cr, Cd and Pb) in tobacco leaves and some selected cigarettes from Benue State were analyzed using AAS techniques. The results obtained indicates that the mean concentration (ppm) of Cr, Cd and Pb in tobacco leaves were 0.216, 0.056 and 0.052, while that of selected cigarettes are 0.0378 (ppm) for Pb, 0.12 (ppm) for Cr and 0.0116 (ppm) for Cd in all brands of the cigarettes, respectively. The level of Cr, Cd and Pb in selected cigarettes and tobacco leaves were found to be below the WALOH standards for human consumption and plant uptake. It was also revealed that the concentration of the metals in ash tobacco leaves were lower compared to that of selected cigarette. Similarly, results of the analysis of all the ten different brands of cigarettes shows that Cr concentration was the highest, followed by Pb and Cd was the least.
Key words: Heavy metals, tobacco, cigarettes, cancer, Benue.