Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Radioactivity of tobacco trichomes and insoluble cigarette smoke particles

Nature volume 249, pages 215–217 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

Airborne 210Pb is concentrated on small Aitken particles which accumulate on tobacco trichomes. Tobacco curing and the combustion of trichomes in burning cigarettes produce insoluble particles of high 210Pb radioactivity which are inhaled and deposited in the bronchi of smokers. The subsequent ingrowth of 210Po results in high local a irradiation which may account for bronchial cancer among smokers.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lundin, F. E., jun., Wagoner, J. K., and Archer, V. E., Radon daughter exposure and respiratory cancer: quantitative and temporal aspects, NIOSH-NIEHS Joint Monograph No. 1 (US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Little, J. B., Radford, jun., E. P., McCombs, H. L., and Hunt, V. R., New Engl. J. Med., 273, 1343 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Little, J. B., and Radford, jun., E. P., Science, 155, 606 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Radford, jun., E. P., and Hunt, V. R., Science, 143, 247 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hill, C. R., Nature, 208, 423 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Holtzman, R. B., and Ilcewicz, F. H., Science, 153, 1259 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Blanchard, R. L., Health Phys., 13, 625 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Holtzman, R. B., Science, 155, 607 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tso, T. C., Harley, N., and Alexander, L. T., Science, 153, 880 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Francis, C. W., Cheaters, G., and Erhardt, W. H., Envir. Sci. Tech., 2, 690 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Barrera, R., and Werusman, E. W., Tobacco Sci., 10, 157 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chakraborty, M. K., and Weybrew, J. A., Tobacco Sci., 7, 122 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lassen, L., and Rau, G., Z. Phys., 160, 504 (1960).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Junge, C. E., Air chemistry and radioactivity (Academic Press, New York, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Poet, S. E., Moore, H. E., and Martell, E. A., J. geophys. Res., 77, 6515 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wakeham, H., in The chemistry of tobacco and tobacco smoke, 1–20 (Plenum, New York, London, 1972).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Kelley, T. F., Science, 149, 537 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Benner, J. F., and Keene, C. K., in Proc. University of Kentucky, Tobacco and Health Research Institute, Conference Report 3, 185–192 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hatch, T. F., and Gross, P., Pulmonary deposition and retention of inhaled aerosols (Academic Press, New York, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Archer, V. E., and Wagoner, J. K., Health Phys., 25, 351 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. BEIR Rep. (Biological effects of ionizing radiation), 145–157 (National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 1972).

  22. Cember, H., in Progress in experimental tumor research, 4, 251–303, (Karger, Basel, New York, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Selikoff, I. J., Hammond, E. C., and Chrug, J., J. Am. med. Ass., 204, 106 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. McDonald, J. C., Biggs, G. W., Manfreda, J., and White, F. M. M., in Multiple factors in the causation of environmentally induced disease, (edit. by Lee, D. H. K., and Kotin, P.,), Ch. 12 (Academic Press, New York, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  25. The health consequences of smoking, a report to the Surgeon General (US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1971).

  26. Proc. conf. distribution, retention and late effects of thorium oxide, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 145, 523–858 (1967).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, 80302

    Edward A. Martell

Authors
  1. Edward A. Martell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martell, E. Radioactivity of tobacco trichomes and insoluble cigarette smoke particles. Nature 249, 215–217 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/249215a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/249215a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing