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Evaluation of some toxic metals in blood samples of smokers in Saudi Arabia by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Ramadi, Mohammed A Al-; Otaibi, Fahad O Al-; Homoda, A.M. & Mostafa, Gamal AE
Abstract
Purpose: To determine some toxic elements in the blood of cigarette and tobacco pipe smokers in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: The study setting was Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh City. Male volunteers,
aged 20 - 58 year, whose blood samples were collected, were classified into three groups of cigarette
smokers (N = 30), tobacco pipe smokers (N = 30) and non-smokers (24). Inductive coupled plasma
mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurement was conducted to determine the concentration of toxic
metals in the blood samples after microwave acid digestion.
Results: The mean concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and nickel
(Ni) were 0.23 ± 0.30, 26.42 ± 20.08, 19.43 ± 10.00, 8.77 ± 6.98 and 79.57 ± 70.51), respectively, for
cigarette smokers; (0.31 ± 0.19, 8.11 ± 8.60, 4.80 ± 3.01, 13.05 ± 3.01 and 9.96 ± 5.00), respectively,
for tobacco pipe smokers; and 0.07 ± 0.20, 3.89 ± 5.82, 10.09 ± 2.75, 10.44 ± 5.37 and 1.60 ± 2.77),
respectively, non-smokers.
Conclusion: The results showed that the blood concentrations of heavy metals in smokers were higher
than those in non-smokers.
Keywords
Blood; Heavy metals; Smokers; Tobacco pipe smokers; Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry
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