Concentration of cadmium in tobacco cigarette brands traded in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Abstract

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal whose life in the human body is of approximately 30 years, the exposure to it has been related to different types of cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence and concentration of cadmium in tobacco cigarettes that are sold in Guayaquil. A total of 22 samples were collected and grouped by brand and country of origin. Cadmium content was determined using the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique, with an average of 1.89 ± 1.75 mg / kg. There are three groups of cigarettes with significant differences in terms of cadmium concentration (Anova; p<0.005), being the brand “COS” made in China, whose sale is illegal, the one with the highest Cd concentration (4.73 ± 1.14 mg / kg). Cigarettes manufactured in Ecuador occupy the second place in terms of concentrations of cadmium (1.49 ± 0.58 mg / kg), attracting attention the cigarettes of Indian origin, also of illegal sale, which obtained the lowest concentration (0.418 ± 0.25 mg / kg). A proposal was made to reduce the incidence of cadmium in the production process of tobacco cigarettes production at national level.