ABSTRACT
Increase in tobacco smoking has been associated with health implications, hence the need for research into the heavy metal content of tobacco cigarettes. In this study, five brands of cigarettes commonly consumed were analyzed. Five packets of different brands of tobacco cigarette were purchased from Oba market in Benin city and were labeled A, B, C, D and E respectively. Few sticks from each packet of the cigarette were randomly selected for homogenous representation. These cigarettes were analyzed for the presence of two heavy metals, namely: cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in A was found to be 0.06 and 2.80 mg/kg respectively. The concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in B was found to be 0.06, 3.02 mg/kg respectively. The concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in C was found to be 0.06 and 3.08 mg/kg respectively. The concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in D was found to be 0.40 and 3.08mg/kg respectively while the concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in E was found to be below detection limit and 2.76 mg/kg respectively. The physicochemical analysis of these cigarette brand was also carried out and The moisture content of brand A, B, C, D and E was found to be 0.90, 0.88, 0.96, 1.85 and 0.80 % respectively with the order of variation as D > C > A > B > E. The ash content of brand A, B, C, D and E was found to be 11.00, 10.65, 10.10, 5.15 and 11.25 % respectively with the order of variation as E > A > B > C > D. The pH value of brand A, B, C, D and E was found to be 5.88, 5.92, 5.65, 5.53 and 5.35 respectively From this study, it was observed that cadmium (Cd) concentration was formed to within the range of the permissible limit of 0.05 mg/kg in all the tobacco cigarette samples analysed, with sample E having it's trace of cadmium below detection limit. The concentration of Pb in all the tobacco cigarette samples analysed was found to be above the WHO/FAO.
