Arsenic in Tobacco Smoke

Abstract

An apparatus is described for use in determining volatile As and other substances evolved during the smoking of cigars, cigarettes, and pipe tobacco. Analyses of popular domestic brands of cigars, cigarettes, and smoking tobaccos show a range from 8.3 to 50.0 p.p.m. of As2O3 as compared with a range of 7-385 p.p.m. found by Remington in domestic smoking and chewing tobaccos. On the basis of av. figures, the As inhaled in smoking 1.35 lb. of cigars, 0.57 lb. of cigarettes or 0.16 lb. (2.6 oz.) of pipe tobacco is calculated to be equivalent to that present in 1 lb. of food containing 1.43 p.p.m. of As2O3, which is the max. permitted by law for food products. The proportion of total As volatilized during smoking ranges for cigars from 15.1 to 34.7%, for cigarettes from 32.2 to 41.3%, and for pipe tobaccos from 26.1 to 32.8%. Remington reported about 50% volatile in similar tests on pipe tobaccos.