Assessment of different heavy metals in cigarette filler and ash from multiple brands retailed in Saudi Arabia

Tobacco smoking is considered one of the major global health concerns due to its known carcinogenic effects on the human body. In this study, 36 samples of tobacco products were evaluated for the approximation of the heavy metal content, including chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) using the inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The heavy metal content was evaluated in the tobacco filler, ash, and tobacco products (with and without filters). The average concentrations in filler tobacco products were 0.66 mg/kg, 0.09 mg/kg, 2.61 mg/kg, 245.55 mg/kg, 0.38 mg/kg, 3.985 mg/kg, and 1.64 mg/kg, for Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn, respectively. Ash obtained from the combustion of different tobacco products had various toxic metals in different concentrations. Furthermore, the concentration of heavy metals in tobacco products (with and without filters) was also analyzed to evaluate the effect of filters. The results of the study showed that the number of heavy metals present, and their concentrations vary in different brands of tobacco products. Moreover, the concentrations for both Pb and Cd, the potent human carcinogens, were greater than the recommended threshold set forth by WHO and FAO.