Leaching tests to assess the release of 210Po from discarded cigarette butts

Abstract In this study, the concentration of 210 Po was determined by alpha spectrometry after its spontaneous deposition on a silver disk from butts of the most popular cigarette brands in Italy. When assessing the effects of this radionuclide on human health, its leachability in the environment by aqueous solution must be taken into account. Hence, the presence and mobility of 210 Po in cigarette butts were assessed. The results obtained using two different procedures (batch extraction and column percolation) were compared in terms of radionuclide release. Five solutions at different pH were used for leaching tests to simulate a closed system environment: Leachant A: 0.4 M MgCl 2 , pH = 6.5; leachant B: CH 3 COOH + CH 3 COONa pH 5; leachant C: CH 3 COOH, pH 2.5; leachant D: 0.02 M HNO 3 and 30% H 2 O 2 and (ratio 3:5), pH  1 (mean ± SD: 1.66 ± 0.40). Hence, it appears that the column percolation test, which provides a better approximation of the leaching process under natural conditions, may leach out a larger amount of the radionuclide than the batch extraction test.