Activity concentration of polonium-210 and lead-210 in tobacco products and annual committed effective dose to tobacco users in Tiruchirappalli District (Tamil Nadu, India)

The present study has carried out with an objective of determining the activity concentrations of two radionuclides namely polonium-210 (Po-210) and lead-210 (Pb-210) in smoke tobacco products (cigarette, bidi and cigar) and smokeless tobacco products (chewing tobacco and snuff) consumed in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu (India) and their annual committed effective dose to tobacco consumers. The concentration of Po-210 was always higher than that of Pb-210 in all the analyzed tobacco products. It also revealed that 79% of Annual committed effective dose comes from Po-210 and about 21% from Pb-210. Maximum concentration (13.2 mBq g(-1)) of Po-210 recorded in cigarette and lowest concentration was observed in snuff (6.4 mBq g(-1)). The highest mean committed effective dose of Po-210 and Pb-210 in various tobacco products were found in cigarette followed by bidi, cigar, chewing tobacco and snuff. The study revealed that the tobacco products available in Tiruchirappalli District contain a relatively lower concentration of radionuclides when compared to other regional studies. Since this kind of study in India is fragmentary, the present study has generated a base data for the first time for entire Tiruchirappalli District.