Electronic cigarettes (EC) proved to be very popular way of consuming nicotine, especially due to
opinion that EC present a safer alternative to conventional tobacco products. There are many forms
of EC in the market with different refills. In presented research, e-cigarettes filters were in the focus.
The idea was to evaluate heavy metals content in used and unused e-cigarettes filters. Special
attention was on environmental issue, since e-cigarettes filters (with potential heavy metals presence)
could contribute to the environmental damage and threat, due to accumulation. Four heavy metals,
namely Cr, Cd, Pb and Mn were quantified in the filters of the most popular e-cigarettes found in the
market of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Determination of metal concentrations was done by method of
atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the extracts obtained after the acid digestion of filters with
concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The results of used e-cigarettes mean ± standard
deviation concentrations in the filters were as follows: 0.16±0.05 mg Cd/kg, 4.61±1.81 mg Pb/kg,
32.02±5.31 mg Mn/kg and 2.59±1.23 mg Cr/kg. On the other hand, heavy metal concentrations in
the unused filters were significantly lower and amounted to 0.07±0.00 mg Cd/kg, 0.035±0.04 mg
Pb/kg, 10.43±0.14 mg Mn/kg and 0.98±0.30 mg Cr/kg. Determined metal contents in the filters of
smoked and unsmoked cigarettes were at similar levels to those found in the studies done worldwide.
In order to obtain more detailed overview of the impact of these products on human health and the
environment, it is necessary to continue with similar researches.
