Regulating the yield of toxic substances from cigarette on a per mg nicotine basis


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3327.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 6

Abstract #107974

Fan Chen, PhD, MPH and William Bina, MD, MPH. Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, 1550 College Street, Department of Community Medicine, Macon, GA 31207, (478) 301-4095, chen_fd@mercer.edu

Major reports over the past decades presented the yield of toxic substances in cigarette smoke either on a per cigarette or per mg tar basis. Neither measure considers potential compensation by the smoker. 77% of research papers focused on factors related to compensation suggested that the need for nicotine is the driving force of compensation. Comparing levels of toxic substances per mg nicotine base would more accurately reflect true exposure yields of smokers.

Method: Results of measured substance level in mainstream of cigarette smoke from 30 brands of cigarettes were analyzed. The yields of carbon monoxide (CO) and 4-methylnitrosamino-1-3-pyridyl-1-butanone (NNK) per cigarette were compared with that of nicotine.

Results: Substantial variation by cigarette was found in CO per mg nicotine and NNK per mg nicotine. The low CO or low NNK yield per cigarette does not necessarily mean a low level on a per mg nicotine basis. If smokers switched to low tar cigarettes but compensated to keep their nicotine level similar to what they had previously, some of their toxic substance exposures may remain at the same level or even higher, even though the total tar intake was reduced.

Implications: Policy makers regulating tobacco production should consider the importance of restricting the toxic substances on per mg nicotine basis as well as restricting tar and nicotine level on per cigarette basis.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

1. Know why the current method of measurement of exposure level to toxic substances in mainstream of cigarette smoke does not reflect the true value due to failure of consideration of compensation related to change of smoking behavior.
2. Know why it would be much better if we regulate cigarette production by restrict toxic substance yields on per mg nicotine basis than on per mg tar basis.

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Tobacco Legislation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Issues in Tobacco Control and Prevention Poster Session

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA