[Cadmium and lead levels in domestic and imported cigarettes]

The content of cadmium and lead was determined in several most popular brands of cigarettes produced in Poland (Carmen, Caro, Extra Mocne, Klubowe, Popularne, Radomskie, Marlboro--produced on the licence of the Philip Morris and in cigarettes imported from Albania (Durres Special, Arberia), Yugoslavia (Jugo) and Cuba (Tobaco Dorado 767, Kim). The samples of these cigarettes were taken from retail market five times at intervals of one month in 1984, (Polish cigarettes) and in 1985 (foreign cigarettes). Cadmium and lead were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after dry mineralization of samples at 400 degrees C and extraction of complexes of metals with APDC into butyl acetate. The mean levels of cadmium and lead (microgram/g) in the studied cigarette brands were respectively: Carmen 1.95, 1.59; Caro 2.12, 1.59; Extra Mocne 4.15, 1.95; Klubowe 2.70, 1.57; Popularne 2.97, 1.54; Radomskie 3.19, 1.46; Marlboro 1.34, 0.87; Durres Special 1.28, 0.80; Arberia 1.09, 0.81; Jugo 1.72, 1.19; Tobacco Dorado 767 1.11, 0.52; Kim 0.98, 0.61.