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Radioactivity in Tobacco

Radiation Facts
  • The tobacco used to make cigarettes and other tobacco products contains trace amounts of radioactive elements.

The fertilizers that tobacco farmers use to increase the size of their tobacco crops contain the naturally-occurring radionuclide radium and its decay products. As the plant grows, the radon from fertilizer, along with naturally-occurring radon in surrounding soil and rocks, transfer into and on the plant and are later included in tobacco products made from these plants. Radon’s decay product, polonium-210, carries the most risk.

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About Radioactivity in Tobacco

tobacco plant flowered
The sticky underside of tobacco leaves hold radionuclides that come from fertilizer. 
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

You have probably heard plenty of reasons not to smoke or use other tobacco products, but here is one more: The tobacco used to make these tobacco products contains trace amounts of radionuclides. One in five deaths each year in the United States are from tobacco use or secondhand smoke exposure—that’s around 480,000 people annually or 1,300 people every day. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke are the main reason cigarettes cause cancer, but radiation also may play a part.

Tobacco farmers use fertilizer to help their crops grow. These fertilizers contain a naturally-occurring radionuclide, radium. Radium radioactively decays to release radon gas, which then rises from the soil around the plants. As the plant grows, the radon from fertilizer, along with naturally-occurring radon in surrounding soil and rocks, cling to the sticky hairs on the bottom of tobacco leaves, called trichomes. Radon later decays into the radioactive elements lead-210 and polonium-210. Rain does not wash them away. Polonium-210 is an alpha emitter and carries the most risk. Learn the radiation basics.

Cigarettes made from this tobacco still contain these radioactive elements. The radioactive particles settle in smokers’ lungs, where they build up as long as the person smokes. Over time, the radiation can damage the lungs and can contribute to lung cancer. Using tobacco products can also make users more vulnerable to other cancer-causing contaminants. For example, radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas occurs naturally in soils. Radon can seep into houses, schools and other buildings through cracks in the foundation. Inhaling it over time can cause lung cancer. Smokers exposed to radon are more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. Learn more about Radon in Homes, Schools and Buildings.

What You Can Do

  • Do not chew or smoke tobacco.  This helps to avoid the health effects from chemicals and radiation in tobacco products.
  • Stay away from secondhand smoke as much as you can. This helps to limit your exposure to chemicals and radiation from tobacco products used by others.

Where to Learn More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA does not regulate tobacco. However, the EPA works to protect families from secondhand smoke through its voluntary Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and Smoke-free Homes Campaign. The goals of the campaign are to teach people about secondhand smoke and the health risks of smoking indoors. Children's developing lungs are more easily damaged by secondhand smoke.

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and Smoke-free Homes
This webpage provides information about the risks of secondhand smoke and links to resources.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC provides information on tobacco use and ways to prevent diseases caused by smoking. It also helps communities educate citizens on how to protect non-smokers from secondhand tobacco smoke in public places.

I'm Ready to Quit!
This webpage provides links to useful information how to quit smoking.

Smoking & Tobacco Use
This webpage provides links to useful information on smoking and preventing smoking.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The Office of the Surgeon General requires warning labels on cigarettes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for implementing regulations on labelling and advertising for tobacco products.

Labelling of Tobacco Products
This webpage provides information on labelling and advertising restrictions for tobacco products.

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Last updated on June 24, 2022