Determination of toxic metals in raw and processed tobacco leaves samples by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Abstract

Heavy metals, including Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Cobalt (Co), are of significant concern in tobacco leaves and tobacco products due to their potential health hazards upon consumption. In India, tobacco is a fundamental agricultural commodity with significant social and economic impact. However, there is no information in the literature on how much heavy metal is present in tobacco leaves from India. This study focuses on the analysis of these heavy metals in tobacco leaves and various tobacco products to assess their concentrations and potential health risks associated with tobacco use. Samples are prepared using appropriate digestion methods to extract heavy metals from the matrix, followed by quantification through calibration with certified reference materials followed by Atomic Absorption spectrometry. The range of metal recoveries in the samples of spiked tobacco was 73 -102 % and RSD is below 15%. The result shows that comparatively higher concentration of heavy metals in tobacco samples collected from Kanpur market.

The findings contribute to understanding the sources and distribution of heavy metals in tobacco products, as well as their potential health implications for consumers.