International Journal of Science & Technology

Volume 2, No 1, 29-32, 2007

Determination of Iron, Copper, Cadmium and Zinc in Some

Cigarette Brands in Turkey

Harun ÇİFTÇİ and Ali ÖLÇÜCÜ

University of Fırat Science-Art Faculty Department of Chemistry, Elazig - TURKIYE
harunciftci@yahoo.com
(Received: 16.01.2007; Accepted: 17. 03. 2007)

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and cadmium
(Cd) in some brand cigarette sold in Turkey, by using atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean values obtained
for Fe in cigarette A, B, C, D and E brands are, 650; 410; 545; 312 and 530 mg/kg; the mean values for Cu are
21,4; 27,6; 18,4; 30,8 and 24,7 mg/kg; the mean values for Cd are 1,94; 2,12; 0,91; 2,24; and 1,05 mg/kg and the
mean values for Zn are 16,2; 48,4; 28,3; 61,8 and 32,5 mg/kg, respectively.
Key Words: Tobacco, Heavy Metal, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, STAT

Türkiye’de Satılan Bazı Sigara Markalarında Demir, Bakır,

Kadmiyum ve Çinko Tayini
Özet: Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de satılan bazı sigara markalarındaki demir(Fe), bakır(Cu), çinko(Zn), ve kadmiyum
(Cd) düzeylerini alevli atomik absorpsiyon spektrometri (F-AAS) ile tayin etme amacı ile yapılmıştır. A, B, C,
D ve E markalarındaki sigaralarda ortalama demir (Fe) düzeyleri sırasıyla 650, 410, 545, 312 ve 530 mg/kg ,
bakır (Cu) düzeyleri 21,4; 27,6; 18,4; 30,8 ve 24,7 mg/kg, kadmiyum (Cd) düzeyleri 1,94; 2,12; 0,91; 2,24 ve
1,05 mg/kg, çinko (Zn) düzeyleri ise 16,2; 48,4; 28,3; 61,8 ve 32,5 mg/kg olarak bulundu.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Tütün, Ağır Metal, Atomik Absorpsiyon Spektrometri, STAT

1. Introduction

Tobacco plant is amenable to absorb and
accumulate heavy metal species from the soil
into its leaves [1].
Heavy metals in cigarette tobacco may cause
a significantly serious damage on human health.
In fact, some surveys clarified that the contents
of certain toxic heavy metals, especially
cadmium, in fat [2], blood [3] of tobacco
smokers were much higher than those of non-
smokers. The monitoring of heavy metals in
tobacco and food samples, therefore, is essential
for protection of the environment and of our
health [4]. Cadmium is a known human
carcinogen [5] and has recently been implicated
as a cause of pancreatic cancer [6]. Two main
risk factors for pancreatic cancer, age and
cigarette smoking, are also associated with
cadmium exposure. Cadmium accumulates in the
body over time, because there are no specific
mechanisms for its removal. The half-life of this
metal in the body ranges from 10 to 30 years,
with an average of 15 years [7].
The aim of this study was to determine the
levels of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd)
and zinc (Zn) in some cigarette brands sold in
Turkey, by using flame atomic absorption
spectrometry.
2. Material And Method
Solutions
The standard metal solutions of Cd(II),
Zn(II), Fe(III) and Cu(II) (1000 mg L-1) (grade of
analytical, merck) were diluted to the desired
concentrations with 0,2 M HNO3.
Concentrated (ultrapure grade, Merck)
HNO3, HClO4 and H2O2 for digestion of tobacco
samples and deionized doubly distilled water
was used.
A solution of 1.0 %w/v of LaCl3 was used as
the a slotted tube atom trap (STAT) coating
material. This solution was sprayed on STAT
when the flame was on. So, the destruction of
 Determination of Iron, Copper, Cadmium and Zinc in Some Cigarette Brands in Turkey

STAT by alkaline and earth-alkaline elements the best line equations. Calibration curves are
was minimized. shown in Figures 1-4.

Table 1. Operating parameters for FAAS which

Apparatus are used in analysis of trace elements
ATI-Unicam 929 Flame Atomic Absorption Parameters Cd Fe Cu Zn
Wavelength 228,8 248,3 324,8 213,9
Spectrometer (FAAS) equipped with ATI
(nm)
Unicam hollow cathode lamps was used for the HCL current 4,0 15,0 3,0 7,5
determination of Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn. (mA)
STAT was used to increase the sensitivity of Acetylene flow 0,6 0,6 0,5 0,6
Cd using FAAS. rate, (L/min)
Air flow rate 4,0 4,0 4,0 4,0
Jl 180 Chyo electronic balance (L/min)
Premier microwave system Slit (nm) 0,5 0,2 0,5 0,5
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) bomb and
various glassware 700

Preparation of Sample Solutions 600

500

Abs 10-3
Five kinds of tobacco from the Turkish 400
cigarette samples were digested microwave 300
system. 1,00 g portion of each sample was dried 200
at 80°C; 0,40 g of this sample was accurately and 100
y = 302,69x + 47,5
R2 = 0,9945
directly weighed in a PTFE bomb. For the 0
sample decomposition 4,0 mL of concentrated 0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5
HNO3, 1,0 mL of concentrated H2O2 and 1,0 mL Zn (mg/L)

of concentrated HCIO4 acid were added. In a Figure 1. Calibration curve for zinc
tightly closed system, the following six-step
microwave digestion program was applied 200
according to the manufacturer’s operating
guideline: 1st step, 1 min 150W; 2 nd step, 2 min 0 150
-3

w; 3 rd step, 4 min 150 W; 4 th step, 3 min 300

Abs. 10

W; 5 th step, 3 min 480 W; 6 th step, 2 min 650 100

W. PTFE bomb was kept for an hour to cool and

50
was carefully opened. Colorless solution was y = 99,023x + 1,2326
2
transferred into a beaker and the contents were 0
R = 0,9994

evaporated to dryness on a hot plate. Afterwards, 0 0,5 1 1,5 2

final volume was diluted to 25,0 mL with 0,1M Cu (mg/L)

HNO3.
Figure 2. Calibration curve for copper
Analysis of Tobacco Samples
Sample solutions were analyzed with method 1000
of direct calibration curve by Flame Atomic
800
Abs. 10-3

Absorption Spectrometry for every element.

Device setting is controlled every five readings. 600
In addition, diluting reagents which are used are
400
read by device as blank. Readings were done in
duplicate. The optimum conditions for Flame 200
y = 38,056x + 46,637
R 2 = 0,9919
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry are given
0
Table 1. 0 5 10 15 20 25

Calibration Curves for Elements Fe (mg/L)

Readings were always performed in the Figure 3. Calibration curve for iron
linear range. Concentrations were found using
30

80
70
Abs. 10-3
60
50
40
30
20
10
0 values were between 0,79 and 1,29 mg/kg [4]. In
0 20 40
Cd (µg/L)
Figure 4. Calibration curve for cadmium
3. Results and Discussion
Various systems are affected by a deficiency
or excess of trace elements such as zinc, copper
and iron, or by the negative effects of elements
that contribute to metal pollution poisoning such
as lead and cadmium. As a consequence, any of
the specific diseases caused by any of the
elements in question may occur, or they may
contribute as important factors in the occurrence
of various diseases [8].
Tobacco leaves naturally accumulate and
concentrate relatively high levels of cadmium,
and therefore smoking of tobacco is an important
source of air cadmium exposure for smokers. It
has been reported that one cigarette contains
about 0.5 - 2 µg of cadmium and that about 10%
of the cadmium content is inhaled when the
cigarette is smoked. Smokers generally exhibit
significantly higher cadmium body burdens than
non-smokers [9, 10].
The analytical results and standard
deviations of the levels of non-toxic (zinc, iron,
copper) and toxic (cadmium) elements in the
some cigarette brands in Turkey are shown in
Tables 2.
Table 2. Level trace and toxic element of cigarettes
Cigarette Fe Zn
Brand (mg/kg) (mg/kg)
A 650± 41 16,2± 3,2
B 410± 37 48,4± 5,5
C 546± 15 28,3± 7,7
D 312± 27 61,8± 3,6
E 531± 13 32,5± 2,8
Results are mean ± SD of three replicate analyses.
H. Çiftçi and A. Ölçücü
As it is seen in Table 2; The Fe values had a
range of 312-650 mg/kg; this value was 16,2-
61,8 for Zn, 18,4-30,8 for Cu and 0,91-2,24 for
Cd.
Zhang and his friends in one study which
they did with HPLC in cigarette tobacco in
y = 1,1x + 1
2
different brands found zinc concentrations
R = 0,9966
between 65,7 and 89,8 mg/kg, and cadmium
60 80 our study zinc levels were found to be between
16,2 and 61,8 mg/kg, cadmium is found to be
between 0,91 and 2,24 mg/kg. Because heavy
metal concentrations are different in soil, it is
expected that the results for heavy metal
concentrations in tobaccos are also different.
Cadmium amount has been found high in
cigarettes which are produced under the brand
names of A, B and D. The individuals who
consume these brands should be attentive
towards the possibility of being lung, kidney and
pancreas cancers which cadmium causes. The
prices of A, B and D cigarette brands are lower
than the C and E brands.
Several investigators [11, 12] have shown
that Sb, Br, As, Cd and Co (as cobalt carbonyl)
are toxic for the human bio system even at very
low levels of intake. Most of these toxic
elements are present in tobacco leaves and food
due to increasing industrialization and pollution,
uptake from soil and fertilizer, pesticides,
storage, processing, packing and other domestic
activities. With the use of some pesticides, plants
may incorporate in their structure a certain
amount of toxic elements. Due to a large
consumption of tobacco in Turkey, a study of
heavy metals and rare earth elements in tobacco
products is desirable. Therefore, it is necessary
to measure these trace elements in tobacco for
assessing the possible role they may play to
cause some diseases [13].
Cu Cd 4. References
(mg/kg) (mg/kg)
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tobacco-cut so as to increase microelement content in
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the cigarette smoke”, Acta Alimentaria, 31, 83-92
18,4± 1,9 0,91±0,10 2. Mussalo-Rauhamaa H., Salmela S.S., (1986),
30,8± 6,4 2,24±0,12 “Some trace and heavy metals and pesticides in
24,7± 4,1 1,05±0,06
man”, Arch. Environ. Health, 41, 49-55
3. El-Agha O., and Gokmen I. G., (2002), “Smoking
habits and cadmium intake in. Turkey”, Biol. Trace
Elem., Res., 88 (1), 31-43
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 Determination of Iron, Copper, Cadmium and Zinc in Some Cigarette Brands in Turkey
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9. Elinder, Cad-Gustaf (1985) "Cadmium: Uses,
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10. World Health Organisation (WHO) (1992),
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11. Comar, D., (1969), “Modern trends in activation
analysis”, NBS Spec Pub 1, 312, 99.
12. Van Grieken RE, Markowicz AA., (1993),
Handbook of X-ray spectrometry. Bassel, Hong Kong,
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Akçabat tobacco and its ash by EDXRF
spectrometry”, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy
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