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Separation and identification of snuff constituents by using GC–MS and ICP-OES as well as health risk assessment of some existing heavy metals

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Abstract

The identification of volatile organic components in snuff was accomplished using GC–MS analysis in this study. The findings of the GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of nicotine, its derivatives, and several other toxic chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Furthermore, the content of 34 elements in four brands of snuff consumed in Neyshabur City was determined by ICP-OES analysis (with five repetitions). The health hazards of measured heavy elements were examined from two perspectives: carcinogenic (7 heavy elements were checked) and non-carcinogenic (4 heavy elements were checked). The investigation of non-carcinogenic hazards from inhalation was based on the computation of the hazard quotient (HQ) factor, and the results indicated that inhaling five heavy metals, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cd, does not represent a substantial health risk ((HQ < 1). In contrast, the computed HQ factors for Cr and As were relatively high (1 < HQ < 10), indicating a substantial health risk from breathing these two elements. The carcinogenic factor (CR value) results revealed that the degree of carcinogenic risk for Cd was very low (CR value less than 1 × 10−6) and did not pose a concern to the consumer population. However, the risk of As, Cr, and Ni exposure is considerable in the carcinogenic risk range (CR values between 1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−4).

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of this work by the Neyshabur University of Medical Science Research Council is gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

This research was fully funded by the Neyshabur University of Medical Science Research Council, Iran (Project ID of 99–01-195 and ethics code of IR.NUMS.REC.1399.047).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran

    Safoura Javan

  2. Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

    Mahboube Eskandari

  3. Department of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

    Zahra Babaei

  4. Iranian Research Center On Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Nayyereh Aminisani

  5. Healthy Ageing Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran

    Raheleh Ahmadi & Amir M. Ramezani

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  1. Safoura Javan
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  3. Zahra Babaei
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Contributions

Safoura Javan: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and investigation, writing — original draft preparation. Mahboube Eskandari: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and investigation, writing — original draft preparation. Zhahra Babaei: conceptualization, methodology, writing — original draft preparation. Nayyereh Aminisani: conceptualization, methodology, writing — review and editing. Raheleh Ahmadi: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and investigation, writing — original draft preparation. Amir M. Ramezani: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and investigation, writing — review and editing.

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Correspondence to Amir M. Ramezani.

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Javan, S., Eskandari, M., Babaei, Z. et al. Separation and identification of snuff constituents by using GC–MS and ICP-OES as well as health risk assessment of some existing heavy metals. Environ Monit Assess 195, 1513 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12121-9

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