Dioxins in Cigarette Smoke

Abstract

Dioxins in cigarettes, smoke, and ash were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The total concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in cigarette smoke was approximately 5.0 micrograms/m3 at the maximum level, whereas various congeners from tetra-octa-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (-CDD) were detected. Particullary, the total concentration of hepta-CDD congeners was the highest among these congeners. Mass fragmentograms of various PCDD congeners were similar to those in flue gas samples collected from a municipal waste incinerator. The PCDD congeners that were not present in the cigarettes were found in the smoke samples. The 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxic equivalent value--an index for effects on humans--for total PCDDs in smoke was 1.81 ng/m3 using the toxic factor of the United States Environment Protection Agency. Daily intake of PCDDs by smoking 20 cigarettes was estimated to be approximately 4.3 pg.kg body weight/day. This value was close to that of the ADIs: 1-5 pg.kg body weight/day reported in several countries. A heretofore unrecognized health risk was represented by the presence of PCDDs in cigarette smoke.

High Levels of Dioxin-Like Potential in Cigarette Smoke Evidenced byIn vitroandIn vivoBiosensing

“…It is below the TDI proposed by WHO (1-4 pg/kg/d). Consistently, Muto and Takizawa also reported that the daily intake of PCDD by smoking 20 cigarettes was f4 pg/kg body weight/d (6). In contrast to these previous reports, we showed in this report that cigarette smoke has extremely high levels of dioxin-like potential for triggering the AhR-XRE pathway.…”

“…Those include PCDD, PCDF, Co-PCB, and benzo(a)pyrene (6,20). However, previous assessment using gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analyses showed that the levels of individual chemicals in cigarette smoke were very low and within permissible ranges.…”

“…Those chemicals include polychlorinated dibenzo-p -dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF), coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCB), and benzo(a)pyrene (6,7). However, the whole ''dioxin-like'' potential of cigarette smoke for activating the AhR-XRE pathway has not been elucidated before.…”

Host and environmental determinants of polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons in serum of adolescents.

“…Polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAHs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are contaminants of the food chain (2), are present in tobacco smoke (3,4) and air (5,6), and accumulate in fat tissue (1,2). Lower chlorinated PCB congeners (e.g., PCB 28,52, and 101) are less cumulative (shorter half-life in the body) than are higher chlorinated congeners (e.g., PCB 138, 153, and 180).…”

Risks and Management of Dioxins and Dioxin-like Compounds in Baltic Sea Fish: An Integrated Assessment

“…In the case of tobacco, a comparison may be warranted also because tobacco smoke causes additional exposure to PCDD/Fs, even at the level of 4 pg TEq kg -1 bw d -1 from 20 cigarettes a day (Muto and Takizawa 1989), a value close to TDI, and causes elevated serum levels especially in women (Fierens et al 2005). Smoking on the other hand influences the pharmacokinetics and body burdens of DLCs (e.g.…”