# Determination of activities of 210Pb in Slovak tobacco and cigarettes: a study on radiological risks

## TL;DR

This study measures radioactive lead-210 in Slovakian tobacco and cigarettes to assess health risks from smoking.

## Contribution

The study compares two extraction methods for measuring 210Pb activity in tobacco products in Slovakia.

## Key findings

- 210Pb activity in tobacco ranged from 13.3 to 33.8 mBq/g, and in cigarettes from 16.8 to 28.5 mBq/g.
- Average annual effective doses for smokers ranged from 25.5 to 115.7 µSv depending on cigarette consumption.

## Abstract

This study investigates the 210Pb activity concentrations in tobacco and cigarettes available in Slovakia, utilizing two specific extraction methods including the Sr Resin sorbent used in extraction chromatography, and the AnaLig Sr01 sorbent, which operates based on molecular recognition principles. The findings revealed significant variations in 210Pb activity concentrations, with concentrations ranging from 13.3 to 33.8 mBq/g in tobacco, and from 16.8 to 28.5 mBq/g in cigarettes. The average 210Pb activity per cigarette was 14.4 mBq ± 1.7 mBq. Annual effective doses for smokers were calculated, with values for tobacco ranging from 27.9 to 126.7 µSv and for cigarettes from 25.5 to 115.7 µSv. The study highlights the importance of comparing these two methods to ensure an accurate assessment of 210Pb exposure and evaluation of radiological risks associated with smoking in Slovakia.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00411-024-01098-9.