Title: Polonium-210 in cigarette tobacco

Authors: Ashraf E.M. Khater, Hamed A.I. Al-Sewaidan

Addresses: National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box 7551, Nasr City, Cairo 11762, Egypt; Physics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Physics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Tobacco and tobacco smoke contain minute amounts of some natural radionuclides such as ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po, which are carcinogens. Intake of these radionuclides results in an increase of radiation doses to lung cells and tissues. Samples of the most frequently smoked cigarette brands were collected from the local market of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po were measured by alpha spectrometers, following the radiochemical separation of polonium. The average activity concentration (range) of ²¹⁰Po was 15.1 (5.5–22.2) mBq/cigarette. Cigarette smokers who consume one pack (20 cigarettes) per day are inhaling an average of 151 mBq/day of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb each. The mean values of the annual effective dose for smokers (one pack per day) were estimated to be 237 and 309 µSv from ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb, respectively.

Keywords: cigarette smoking; lead-210; polonium-210; radiation dose; Saudi Arabia; tobacco; low radiation; natural radionuclides; Saudi Arabia; tobacco smoke.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2006.012022

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2006 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.224 - 233

Published online: 09 Jan 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article