Determinação de sódio e potássio em produtos de tabaco: comparação entre cigarro tradicional e cigarro de palha

Abstract

The consumption of tobacco and its use in tobacco products remains a matter of utmost importance for public health, with direct implications for the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. This study aimed to analyze the levels of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) present in inhaled smoke and in the tobacco rod of samples from traditional cigarettes and straw cigarettes. The methodology employed was acid digestion of smoke collected via a suction system, and dry digestion for the tobacco rods, followed by detection of the analytes using the flame photometry technique with standard addition. The results for Na and K in the traditional cigarette samples, both in the smoke and in the tobacco rod, were not accurate due to a high analytical error—attributed to improper reuse of glassware, characterizing a gross error. In the case of the straw cigarette, neither analyte was detected in the smoke, while in the tobacco rod only K was detected at a concentration of 0.3±0.1 mg/g. Smoke analysis allows for estimation of how much of the elements present in the cigarette mass are actually transferred to the body during inhalation, although part of these elements may be decomposed by heat or retained in the filter and ashes. Based on these findings, the importance of future investigations is emphasized, using more sensitive and comprehensive analytical techniques, as well as the need to expand the range of brands and samples analyzed. It is concluded that although sodium and potassium levels were not detected in the smoke, the presence of potassium in the tobacco rod, albeit low, adds to the over 4,700 chemical substances already documented by various studies. This addition is not negligible, especially for individuals with chronic consumption and sensitive populations, such as those with hypertension or kidney disorders. These findings reinforce the chemical complexity of cigarette smoke and demonstrate the importance of considering not only the toxic compounds in tobacco, but also the inorganic elements that may impact the body’s electrolyte balance over the long term.