Polonium-210: Removal from Smoke by Resin Filters

Bretthauer, Erich W.; Black, S.C.

doi:10.1126/science.156.3780.1375

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In fact, common filters, found in the cigarettes of commerce, are able to reduce Po-210 activity on average by 4.6% [93]. There is evidence that resin filters may reduce lung exposure to alpha radiation even more [94]. …”

Section: Po-210 Quantity In Tobacco Smokementioning

confidence: 99%

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Polonium and Lung Cancer

Zagà¹,

Lygidakis

Chaouachi

et al. 2011

Journal of Oncology

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The alpha-radioactive polonium 210 (Po-210) is one of the most powerful carcinogenic agents of tobacco smoke and is responsible for the histotype shift of lung cancer from squamous cell type to adenocarcinoma. According to several studies, the principal source of Po-210 is the fertilizers used in tobacco plants, which are rich in polyphosphates containing radio (Ra-226) and its decay products, lead 210 (Pb-210) and Po-210. Tobacco leaves accumulate Pb-210 and Po-210 through their trichomes, and Pb-210 decays into Po-210 over time. With the combustion of the cigarette smoke becomes radioactive and Pb-210 and Po-210 reach the bronchopulmonary apparatus, especially in bifurcations of segmental bronchi. In this place, combined with other agents, it will manifest its carcinogenic activity, especially in patients with compromised mucous-ciliary clearance. Various studies have confirmed that the radiological risk from Po-210 in a smoker of 20 cigarettes per day for a year is equivalent to the one deriving from 300 chest X-rays, with an autonomous oncogenic capability of 4 lung cancers per 10000 smokers. Po-210 can also be found in passive smoke, since part of Po-210 spreads in the surrounding environment during tobacco combustion. Tobacco manufacturers have been aware of the alpha-radioactivity presence in tobacco smoke since the sixties.

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Section: Po-210 Quantity In Tobacco Smokementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Resin filters may decrease lung exposure to alpha radiation [94]. On the contrary, common filters reduce Po-210 activity, on average, by 4.6% [93].…”

Section: How To Reduce the Radioactive Load Of Tobacco Smoke?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Polonium and Lung Cancer

Zagà¹,

Lygidakis

Chaouachi

et al. 2011

Journal of Oncology

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“…84 remove up to 92 percent of the polonium in cigarette smoke. 86 Bretthauer and Black gave a rough estimate that it would cost the tobacco industry 0.5 cents per pack of cigarettes to incorporate the 0.12 grams of resin needed for each cigarette, making the ion-exchange resin filter a relatively cheap fix that could be used until a more effective solution could be found.…”

Section: "The Worst Part There May Be Some Degree Of Validity"mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Polonium Brief: A Hidden History of Cancer, Radiation, and the Tobacco Industry

Rego

2009

Isis

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The first scientific paper on polonium-210 in tobacco was published in 1964, and in the following decades there would be more research linking radioisotopes in cigarettes with lung cancer in smokers. While external scientists worked to determine whether polonium could be a cause of lung cancer, industry scientists silently pursued similar work with the goal of protecting business interests should the polonium problem ever become public. Despite forty years of research suggesting that polonium is a leading carcinogen in tobacco, the manufacturers have not made a definitive move to reduce the concentration of radioactive isotopes in cigarettes. The polonium story therefore presents yet another chapter in the long tradition of industry use of science and scientific authority in an effort to thwart disease prevention. The impressive extent to which tobacco manufacturers understood the hazards of polonium and the high executive level at which the problem and potential solutions were discussed within the industry are exposed here by means of internal documents made available through litigation.

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“…Arguably, a significant part of this mortality is a result of Po-210 in tobacco. Technology to reduce Po-210 in cigarette smoke was available in 1967 8 and presumably could be improved. Now may be the time to apply it.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%