Effect of Trace and Toxic Elements of Different Brands of Cigarettes on the Essential Elemental Status of Irish Referent and Diabetic Mellitus Consumers

Abstract

Cigarette smoking interferes with the metal homeostasis of the human body, which plays a crucial role for maintaining the health. A significant flux of heavy metals, among other toxins, reaches the lungs through smoking. In the present study, the relationship between toxic element (TE) exposure via cigarette smoking and diabetic mellitus incidence in population living in Dublin, Ireland is investigated. The trace [zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se)] and toxic elements arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) were determined in biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of patients diagnosed with diabetic mellitus, who are smokers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age and sex matched healthy, nonsmokers controls. The different brands of cigarette (filler tobacco, filter, and ash) consumed by the studied population were also analyzed for As, Al, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Pb. The concentrations of TEs in biological samples and different components of cigarette were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials (CRM). The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 96.4-99.7 % in certified reference materials. The filler tobacco of different branded cigarettes contains Hg, As, Al, Cd, Ni, and Pb concentrations in the ranges of 9.55-12.4 ng/cigarette, 0.432-0.727 μg/cigarette, 360-496 μg/cigarette, 1.70-2.12 μg/cigarette, 0.715-1.52 μg/cigarette, and 0.378-1.16 μg/cigarette, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of diabetic mellitus patients in relation to healthy controls, while the difference was significant in the case of smoker patients (p<0.001). The levels of all six toxic elements were twofolds to threefolds higher in scalp hair and blood samples of nondiabetic mellitus smoker subjects as compared to nonsmoker controls. The high exposure of toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking may be synergistic with risk factors associated with diabetic mellitus.

Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects

“…The major anthropogenic sources of Al-containing particulate matter include coal combustion, Al production, iron and steel foundries, brass and bronze refineries, motor vehicle emissions and other industrial activities such as smelting, filing, sawing, welding of Al metals (Lee and Von Lehmden, 1973;Ondov et al, 1982;Que Hee et al, 1982). Cigarette smoke may contribute to the concentration of Al in the air (Exley et al, 2006;Kazi et al, 2009;Pappas, 2011;Afridi et al, 2015). The air containing Al particles or droplets becomes the source of Al in inhaled aerosols.…”

Is Insulin Resistance Work Related?

“…The relationship between smoking and diabetes is grounded on large epidemiological studies [155,156]. Mechanisms such as impaired peripheral glucose uptake, oxidative stress, metabolic inflammation [157], and retention of the inhaled high concentration of metals (As, Al, Cd, Ni, Hg and Pb) [158,159] have been described. A synergic effect of occupational exposure and smoking was found in smelters [160] or mining workers [159]; the common proposed pathological mechanism is the reduction of the anti-oxidative defence [160] or the increased retention of the heavy metals.…”

Blood Aluminum Levels in Patients with Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis

“…For aluminum industry workers, there is another possibility for inhalation contact in the course of refining of primary metal and in secondary industries that fabricate aluminum goods (for example aircraft, automotive, and metal goods) and aluminum welding [ 4 ]. Tobacco smoke may also add to the concentration of aluminum in the air [ 5 ].…”

“…Around 1.5 to 2% of inhaled and 0.01 to 5% of ingested aluminum is absorbed, and the absorbed aluminum is excreted largely in the urine [ 4 ]. For the general population, aluminum is not bioaccumulated to a great extent [ 5 ]. Nevertheless, dialysis population should be considered as an exception.…”