Levels of 210Po and 210Pb in cigars

Po-210 and Pb-210 concentrations have been determined in 58 cigar brands manufactured in 11 countries. Cuban and American cigars showed the lowest Po-210 content. The mean levels of Po-210 in Brazilian, European and Dominican cigars were almost identical and somewhat lower than the levels observed for cigars from other Latin American countries. Cuban, American and European cigars contained low levels of Pb-210. Cigars from the remaining countries contained twice as much Pb-210. The mean Po-210/Pb-210 ratio showed an excess of polonium. In the case of a one cigar-a-day smoker, the calculated annual absorbed dose due to Po-210 is similar to16 muGy.