Composition of tobaccos from countries with high and low incidences of lung cancer. I. selenium, polonium-210, alternarla, tar, and nicotine

Abstract

Tobaccos from countries with high and low incidences of lung cancer were analyzed. Tobacco concentrations of polonium-210 were similar in cigarettes from high- and low- incidence countries, as were levels of cigarette smoke tar and nicotine. Tobaccos from low-incidence countries had significantly lower Alternaria spore counts. Mean selenium concentrations of tobaccos from the high-incidence countries (0.16±0.05 µ) were significantly lower than those of tobaccos from the low- incidence countries (0.49±0.22 µ/g).—JNCI 1981; 66:27-31. © 1981 OUP Publishing Ltd.