Program Information
The Truth About Tobacco: Radiation in Cigarettes That Leads to Dose Build Up in Lung Tissue and Causes Cancer
S Enright*, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Presentations
PO-BPC-Exhibit Hall-18 (Saturday, March 7, 2015) Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose: According to the CDC, lung cancer is the second most common cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. About 90% of lung cancers are attributed to smoking cigarettes. The EPA, states that tobacco contains radioactive polonium-210 and lead-210 which are alpha emitters. Most of this is from high-phosphate fertilizers used by the tobacco industry. The purpose of this study is to determine if cigarettes made with tobacco grown with high-phosphate fertilizers have a significantly higher level of radiation (CMP) when compared to cigarettes made without high-phosphate fertilizers.
Methods: Cigarettes purchased locally were divided into two groups: those with tobacco grown with high-phosphate fertilizers (Group A) and those without tobacco grown with high phosphate fertilizers (Group B). For each sample, 15 cigarettes were placed in a plastic cylinder with two open ends. Filter paper and a vacuum were placed on the bottom of the cylinder and the cigarettes were lit. Once the cigarettes were completely spent, the filter paper was placed on a wipe test plate 1cm under a Geiger-Muller counter. Ten-minute timed counts were taken for each sample.
Results: The results showed group A had an average of 52.4 CPM, and group B had an average of 47.9 CMP. A t-test was performed and the data showed a statistically significant difference in CMP between the two groups for a 95% confidence interval.
Conclusion: In conclusion, cigarettes which use tobacco grown with high-phosphate fertilizers have a significantly higher level of radiation when compared to cigarettes without high-phosphate fertilizers. Therefore, these cigarettes cause more radiation dose to build up in the lungs of smokers and may play a major role in whether the person develops lung cancer.
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