The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of more than 4000 chemical compounds bound to aerosol particles and free in the gas phase. Chemical compounds in tobacco can be distilled into smoke or react to form other constituents that then are transferred to smoke. Included in this mixture are chemicals that cause cancer, lung disease, heart disease and addiction. Cigarette design and the way that people use tobacco products have a significant effect on exposure to the constituents of tobacco smoke.

Methods: Tobacco smoke is typically generated and collected using smoking machines designed for this purpose. Smoke components bound to particles with a diameter greater than 0.2 µm are captured on a Cambridge filter pad and smoke components in the gas phase or bound to particles with a diameter less than 0.1 µm pass through the pad and are collected as a gas. The constituents in smoke are analyzed to determine how cigarette design features, tobacco blend, and additives might affect smoke levels.

Results: By altering tobacco curing practices, filter tip ventilation, paper porosity, filter type, and other design features, tobacco manufacturers alter the overall and specific constituent delivery of products. Data have shown significant differences in global tobacco products. And, if people take larger puffs, more frequent puffs or block ventilation holes in order to get a consistent level of nicotine, they will also influence their exposure to smoke constituents.