Assessment the Influence of Tobacco Use on Blood Cadmium Levels among JIJEL University Students

Abstract

Nowadays, smoking is increasingly associated with young people. Smoking, a form of nicotine addiction, is considered a disease and usually begins in high school or college. Cadmium is a heavy metal found in cigarette smoke, which can be extremely harmful.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of smoking on blood cadmium levels in 15 smokers and 15 non-smokers students who were chosen from Jijel University in Northeast Algeria, and to evaluate the most common associated risk factors. Blood cadmium levels were determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). In parallel, the questionnaire was carried out to estimate the relationship between these levels and the associated risk factors, , which included questions about age , smoking status of student, smoking status of entourage, smoking history (age when started smoking and  daily average number of cigarettes smoked) and state of health.

The results showed common to alarming blood cadmium level for all smokers and non- smokers students; nevertheless, smokers levels are substantially higher—with a geometric mean of 82.52µg/l—than those of non-smokers (67.97µg/l). Correlation tests showed that among smokers, age at smoking initiation and type of consumption were the most common risk factors. In contrast to non-smokers, entourage was the most associated risk factor.