Quantitative analysis of some important metals and metalloids in tobacco products by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

A microwave-assisted digestion method was used for sample preparation. The method was validated by analyzing a certified reference material. Percentage relative standard deviation (% R.S.D.) between recovered and certified values was？<？5.8. Linearity value for calibration curve of each metal was 1？>？r？>？0.999. Improved limits of detection (LODs) were in range of ng/L for all elements. Fe, Al and Mn were found to be in the highest concentration in all types of tobacco products, while Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr were below the average concentration of 40？μg/g, and Pb, Co, As, Se and Cd were below 5？μg/g. All elements, apart from Pb, were high in concentration in dipping tobacco in comparison to other tobacco products. Generally, the order of all elemental concentration can be expressed in different tobacco products as chewing？<？smoked？<？sniffing？<？dipping. However, smoked and sniffing will interchange their position in the case of Mn, Cu, Se and Cd. Multivariate statistical analyses were also performed to evaluate the correlation and variations among tobacco products.The present study highlights the quantification of some important metals and metalloids in a wide spectrum of tobacco formulations. The outcome of this study would be beneficial for health authorities and individuals.Tobacco use, especially in Asian countries has a long history. Five million deaths per annum, globally, are attributed to tobacco use. If this tendency continues, tobacco related mortalities will reach 8 million worldwide annually by the year 2030 [1]. Leaves of tobacco plants are used to prepare different products including smoked (cigarettes, beedi, tobacco leaves) and smokeless (sniffing, dipping, chewing) tobacco products. The composition of tobacco is multifarious. The type and number of chemical constituents varies in its different formulations. Thousands of different chemicals have been detected in tobacco smoke; 60–70 of them are proven carcinogens [2]. The only chemical which causes addiction