210Po in human saliva of smokeless tobacco users

The occurrence and mobility of 210Po in oral smokeless tobacco products (STPs) were determined because the effects on human health must take into account its availability. This research was subdivided in two parts: determination by alpha spectrometry of the 210Po activity concentration in 16 oral smokeless tobacco products of different brands purchased in local specialty stores in Europe and evaluation of its % extraction into an artificial salivary during the sucking or chewing operations. 210Po was detected in all samples and its concentrations ranged from 3.46 to 14.8 Bqkg-1 (mean value of 7.45 ± 3.82 Bqkg-1). The highest concentration was found in a chewing tobacco. The samples showed no significant difference in the content of 210Po level. The data obtained in this study show that the polonium, although poorly extracted (12.8 ± 8.96%) by artificial saliva, is not totally retained within the smokeless tobacco products, with a consequent potential health hazard associated with oral use of these products.