Concentration of Heavy Metals in Burley, Virginia and Oriental Tobacco Leaves in the Thessaly Region of Central Greece

It has been pointed out that tobacco accumulates cadmium as well as other potentially toxic heavy metals. A three year study was carried out to provide information on the concentration of heavy metals in air-cured (Burley), flue-cured (Virginia) and sun-cured (Oriental-filling) tobacco produced in the Thessaly region of central Greece. During the years 1998, 1999 and 2000, 474 composite surface (0-30 cm depth) soil samples and 474 leaf samples of cured tobacco at 1, 2 and 3 priming were collected throughout the regions and concentration of Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb was determined. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between soil physical and chemical properties and the concentration of heavy metals in leaf and soil samples. Metal concentrations (mg kg D. M.) in tobacco leaves were found to be as follows: Burley: Zn (6.8-165.5), Cu (1.1-34.5), Mn (16.7-662.5), Cd (0.04-3.6), Pb (0.04-9.1); Virginia: Zn (4.8-108.8), Cu (1.1-68.8), Mn (4.1-897.5), Cd (0.01-3.4), Pb (0.01-10.2); Oriental: Zn (2.1-729.4), Cu (0.2-370.8), Mn (6.3-1424), Cd (0.01-2.6), Pb (0.01-14.4). Statistically significant negative correlations were recorded between heavy metal concentrations in Virginia and Oriental tobacco leaves and soil pH, in all primings.