Aluminum in tobacco and cannabis and smoking-related disease.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to confirm the very high content of aluminum in tobacco and cannabis and to provide for the first time evidence that such aluminum could be biologically available.


METHODS
Complete digestion of tobacco and cannabis was achieved using a 50:50 mixture of 14 M HNO3 and 0.1 M NaF. Total Al in digests was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. A bespoke cigarette smoking apparatus was used to determine if aluminum in active or passive tobacco/cannabis smoke would be trapped by a surrogate lung fluid.


RESULTS
The aluminum content of tobacco and cannabis was confirmed to be high, as much as 0.37% and 0.4% by weight respectively. Aluminum in tobacco and cannabis smoke, whether actively (drawn) or passively inhaled, was shown to accumulate significantly in surrogate lung fluids, thus demonstrating its potential biological availability.


CONCLUSIONS
Active and passive smoking of tobacco or cannabis will increase the body burden of aluminum and thereby contribute to respiratory, neurological and other smoking-related disease.
Exley
Christopher
C
Birchall Centre for Inorganic Chemistry and Materials Science, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. c.exley@chem.keele.ac.uk
Begum
Amina
A
Woolley
Mark P
MP
Bloor
Roger N
RN
D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001682:Biological Availability; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D014026:Nicotiana
D000535:Aluminum