Analysis of toxic heavy metals in cigarettes by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

The Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique was used to analyse 10 cigarette brands sold in the Egyptian market. The concentrations of trace and major constituents were measured to better understand the hazardous effects of smoking Egyptian cigarette tobacco. The samples were irradiated at the core of the Second Research Egyptian Reactor ET-RR-2, and the induced activities were counted by <gamma>-ray spectrometry using an efficiency-calibrated High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The NAA k0-standardization method was used to determine the concentrations of 14 elements (Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Eu, K, Hf, Mg, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Th and Yb). The high concentrations found for some of these elements pose a health hazard to individuals exposed to these cigarettes