Heavy Metal Content in Cigarette and Hookah Tobacco in Iran

Excessive intake of heavy metals has adverse health effects and smoking is one of the sources of these elements. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of 11 heavy metals in tobacco of different widely-consumed brands of cigarettes and hookahs in Iran.

Concentrations of nine types of cigarettes and four types of hookah tobacco were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistical analyses were performed using Shapiro-Wilk pre-test, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey Post Hoc Test.

Manganese and selenium had the highest and the lowest concentrations in cigarette and hookah tobacco, respectively. One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences in concentrations of manganese, barium, and antimony between tobacco of different types of cigarettes (P<0.05). The mean concentrations of the elements in cigarettes were higher than the hookah. Tukey and Mann-Whitney test showed that the mean concentrations of all elements were not significantly different between different types of tobacco in cigarette and hookah (P> 0.05).

High levels of heavy metals were found in cigarette and hookah tobacco in Iranian market. The dangers of these elements to human health, requires enforcing strict regulations to reduce consumption and informing people about their harmful effects.