Multielement measurements in Mexican cigarette tobacco

The concentration of 21 elements in cigarette tobacco in nine different brands manufactured and commercially available in Mexico has been determined using neutron activation analysis. The concentration range of the measured elements (in g g^–1) were: As, (four brands) <0.55–3.24; Ba, 64–251; Br, (four brands) 49–136; Ce, <0.3–1.7; Co, 0.29–0.55; Cr, <0.8–2.4; Cs, 0.091–0.40; Eu, <0.03; Fe, 420–680; Hf, <0.03–0.13; K, (four brands) 18300–40300; La, (four brands) <0.2–0.66; Na, (four brands) 309–566; Rb, 19–50; Sb, <0.7; Sc, 0.13–0.22; Se, <0.7; Sm, (four brands) 0.07–0.14; Sr, 227–472; Th, <0.1–0.17 and Zn, 14–56. The results are compared with the literature values for the concentration of the above elements in cigarette tobacco from other countries.