Determination of trace elements in cigarette paper by neutron activation analysis

The concentration of 21 trace elements in cigarette paper (Zig-Zag paper Company, France) which is used in making different brands of iranian cigarettes, has been measured by neutron-activation analysis, employing a high-resolution Ge(Li) detector. The double sealed vial containing the standard together with the ones holding the sample were irradiated in the Tehran Research Reactor at a thermal neutron flux of 2x1013n cm-2s-1. The duration of irradiation varied between 10 min and 4 hrs, depending on the half-lives of the radionuclides to be analysed. They include, Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Sr, Rb, Ag, Sn, Sb, La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Hg and Th. (T.I.)