Study: Trace Metals Analysis of Legal and Counterfeit Cigarette Tobacco Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Feb 24, 2011
Conclusion: “The mean Hg concentration in the counterfeit cigarettes was much higher than in the legal ones, 0.049 versus 0.020 μgg-1. Hg and most of its compounds are extremely toxic. It can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes. Of all the elements analyzed, Pb showed the greatest enhancement in counterfeit cigarettes relative to the legal ones. The amount of Pb in counterfeits was early 10 times higher than in legal cigarettes with a mean value of 5.69 versus 0.606 μgg -1.”
