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Polonium-210 budget in cigarettes.

Ashraf E M Khater¹

¹National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box 7551, Nasr City, 11762 Cairo, Egypt. khater_ashraf@yahoo.com

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

|October 15, 2003

Summary

Cigarette smoking significantly increases internal radiation dose due to polonium-210 and lead-210. Smokers inhaling one pack daily receive substantial radionuclide intake, contributing to lung cancer risk.

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Nuclear Chemistry
Public Health

Background:

Cigarette smoking introduces significant amounts of polonium-210 (Po-210) and lead-210 (Pb-210) into the body.
These radionuclides elevate internal radiation doses, particularly in lung tissues, potentially increasing lung cancer incidence among smokers.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the activity concentrations of Po-210 in various cigarette components and smoke.
To assess the distribution of Po-210 between tobacco, ash, filters, and smoke.
To estimate the annual effective radiation dose from Po-210 and Pb-210 intake in daily smokers.

Main Methods:

Samples of popular Egyptian cigarette brands were analyzed for Po-210 activity concentration using alpha spectrometry.
Radiochemical separation of polonium was performed, with recovery calculated using a Po-208 tracer.
Po-210 activity in smoke was inferred from measurements in fresh tobacco, wrapping paper, fresh filters, ash, and post-smoking filters.

Main Results:

The average Po-210 activity concentration in cigarette tobacco was 16.6 mBq/cigarette.
Approximately 74.7% of Po-210 was found in the smoke, 20.7% in the ash, and 4.6% in post-smoking filters.
Daily smokers (one pack) inhale an average of 123 mBq/day of Po-210 and Pb-210, leading to estimated annual effective doses of 193 µSv (Po-210) and 251 µSv (Pb-210).

Conclusions:

Cigarette smoke is the primary pathway for Po-210 and Pb-210 intake among smokers.
The estimated radiation doses from these radionuclides are significant and contribute to the health risks associated with smoking.
This study highlights the importance of understanding radionuclide content in tobacco products for public health risk assessment.

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