Mineral profile of Ghanaian dried tobacco leaves and local snuff: A comparative study |
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| Authors: | M A Addo J K Gbadago H A Affum T Adom K Ahmed G M Okley |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon - Accra, Ghana;(2) Department of Food Science and Radiation Processing, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon - Accra, Ghana;(3) Department of Chemistry, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon - Accra, Ghana |
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| Abstract: | The concentration of thirty-four elements each in Ghanaian dried tobacco leaves and snuff (powdered tobacco) have been determined
using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The concentration of Hg, Cr, As and Cd in both set of samples were
found to be in excess of WHO limits for drinking water, thus indicating potential toxicity of the samples. Cr, Cd, Sb and
Cu were two to eight times high, whilst As and Hg were comparable in powdered tobacco and tobacco leaves. The aim of the study
was to determine the pattern of elemental concentrations and the toxicological strengths in both tobacco leaves and tobacco
powder. The results indicated that the toxicity of the snuff was higher than the tobacco. This indicated strongly that from
the medical point of view, the level of toxic accumulation in users might be potentially high in the tobacco powder compared
to the leaves. Thus, education of the Ghanaian public on the threshold value of toxic elements contained in both set of samples
was suggested to safeguard users against these addictives. |
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