Glass Pipes Release the Most Radioactive Polonium-210 From Cannabis, While Water Pipes Filter Some Out

Smoking cannabis with a glass pipe released approximately 80% of the polonium-210 present. Water pipe and blunt smoking had lower desorption rates (around 40%). Water filters absorbed about 8% and cellulose filters about 20% of released polonium. Vaporization released increasing amounts of polonium-210 as temperature increased.

Analysis of 10 dried hemp samples legally available in Poland. Polonium-210 concentrations were measured by radiochemical analysis. Desorption rates were measured across four consumption methods: glass pipe, water pipe (bong), cigarette (joint/spliff), and vaporizer at varying temperatures. Filter absorption efficiency was also measured.

Polonium-210 is a highly radioactive alpha emitter that contributes approximately 7% of total internal radiation dose from ingestion. Cannabis accumulates it from atmospheric deposition and phosphate fertilizers. This is the first study to systematically quantify how much of this radioactive contaminant users actually inhale based on their consumption method.

Radiation dose calculations from cannabis have historically assumed a single consumption method. These findings show that the actual radiation exposure can vary by a factor of two depending on how cannabis is consumed, which has significant implications for risk assessment and harm reduction advice.

Only 10 hemp samples from Poland were tested, which may not represent global cannabis products. Hemp (low-THC) rather than high-THC cannabis was used due to legal restrictions. The study does not directly measure radiation dose in human users.