Tobacco Testing

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Tobacco Testing - Metals

Tobacco is a commodity of fascinating complexity. This range of tests will allow you to better understand the series of components which make up processed tobacco and are applicable to tobacco from cigarettes, cigars or Roll-Your-Own products.

The components of tobacco can be understood from the range of tests found below. Click on each substance tested for further information and interesting facts.

Nicotine

Alkaloids

Ammonia

pH, moisture & density

Tobacco specific nitrosamines

Metals

This set of tests includes the analysis of seven metals:

Arsenic
A metal whose oxides are readily soluble in water. In very small doses, arsenic compounds act as a stimulant and were popular as a medicinal in the eighteenth century.
Cadmium
Used largely in batteries and for pigments for plastic products.
Chromium
A lustrous hard metal used in stainless steel.
Lead
A soft malleable metal that has a blueish white colour when freshly cut, but quickly tarnishes. Historically, this metal was extensively used for water pipes.
Mercury
A liquid metal at room temperature. In the past it was used as a bearing, for example, some lighthouses’ turning mechanism used to rotate on a bed of mercury.
Nickel
A corrosion resistant metal used in stainless steel.
Selenium
Toxic in large quantities, but trace levels are essential for cellular functions in animals.

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