Lead-210 in Tobacco and Cigarette Smoke

Abstract

MANY recent investigations of cigarette smoke have been concerned with concen¬ trations of polonium-210 and the radiation dose to the lungs of smokers who inhale it (-7,2).To ascertain if further insult to the lungs occurs, a study of the levels of other radionuclides, specifically lead-210 in cigarette smoke, was undertaken at the Northeastern Eadiological Health Laboratory, Public Health Service.Limited data by Holtzman and Ilcewicz have indicated a transfer of lead-210 in the smoke(3), and stable lead in tobacco smoke has been reported also by Cogbill and Hobbs (Ii).In¬ creased exposure of the lung to lead-210 may result because the nuclide has a longer effective half-life with subsequent daughter ingrowth.Calculations of the amount of lead-210 de- posited in the lung, a critical organ, were based on the concentrations of lead-210 found in the smoke of various brands of cigarettes tested at this laboratory. MethodologySix brands of cigarettes, varying slightly in physical makeup were chosen for the study.These cigarettes included two which were non- filtered, and one each with a cellulose filter, a