Multielemental Analysis of Tobacco Plant and Tobacco Products by TXRF

J Anal Toxicol. 2018 Jul 1;42(6):409-416. doi: 10.1093/jat/bky016.

Abstract

The aim of this research is to develop a fast analytical method for multielemental analysis of the tobacco plant Virginia tobacco (cultivated in Poland) and tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, snuff and two kinds of properly crafted tobacco such as a shisha and cigarette tobacco) distributed in Polish markets by means of a low-power benchtop total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) system. For this purpose, a set of certified tobacco materials and real samples was employed. In leaves and stalks of V. tobacco and tobacco products, a concentration of 18 elements (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb) was determined. Analyzing elemental composition of tobacco plants, one can see that concentrations of S, Ca, Ti, Mn, Zn, Sr and Pb are higher in leaves, whereas the concentrations of P, Cl, K, Fe Cu and Br are higher in stalks; the levels of Cr, Ni, As and Rb are comparable in both these parts of the tobacco plant. All of the parameters affecting sample preparation and TXRF measurements conditions were carefully evaluated. The accuracy and precision of the TXRF measurements were verified using an internal standardization approach for quantification.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Metals / adverse effects
  • Metals / analysis*
  • Nicotiana / adverse effects
  • Nicotiana / chemistry*
  • Nicotiana / growth & development
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / analysis*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Poland
  • Reference Standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission* / standards
  • Tobacco Products / adverse effects
  • Tobacco Products / analysis*

Substances

  • Metals
  • Plant Extracts