1
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Carroll DM, Tessier K, Luo X, Stepanov IS, Shields PG, O'Connor R, Rees VW, Cummings M, Bickel W, Hatsukami D. Switching to cigarette brand variants with different filter ventilation levels: a descriptive analysis. Tob Control 2024; 33:541-544. [PMID: 36690447 PMCID: PMC10363237 DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulation of filter ventilation (FV) has been proposed to reduce misperceptions that ventilation reduces the health risks of smoking. We describe smoking behaviour and exposure after switching to a cigarette brand variant (CBV) with a different FV level. METHODS Wave 1 (2013-2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco Use and Health Study was merged with FV levels of participants' CBV and restricted to adults with a usual CBV, smoked daily and included in wave 4 (2016-2017; n=371). Generalised estimation equations method modelled changes in FV and cigarettes per day (CPD), quit interest, total nicotine equivalents (TNE) and total NNAL (biomarker of a tobacco-specific carcinogen). FV change was defined as a change in CBV resulting in a ≥20% increase or decrease in FV. Secondary analyses used FV change based on an increase from <5% to >10% or a decrease from >10% to <5%. RESULTS A non-significant pattern indicating an increase of 0.97 and 0.49 CPD was observed among those who switched to a CBV and increased FV by ≥20% and from <5% to >10%, respectively. A non-significant pattern indicating a decrease of 1.31 and 1.97 CPD was observed among those who decreased FV by ≥20% and from >10% to <5%, respectively. Changes in quit interest and biomarkers were also non-significant with one exception: greater reduction in TNE among those who decreased from >10% to <5% FV versus no change (-8.51 vs -0.25 nmol/mg creatinine; p=0.0447). CONCLUSIONS Switching to CBV with lower FV does not appear to increase exposure and may even reduce exposure for some. Additional investigations are recommended to confirm these descriptive findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Mowls Carroll
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Katelyn Tessier
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xianghua Luo
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Irina S Stepanov
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter G Shields
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Richard O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Vaughan W Rees
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Warren Bickel
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Dorothy Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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2
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Chido-Amajuoyi OG, Mantey DS, Igbinomwanhia E, Omega-Njemnobi O, Onyeaka H, Yu RK, Agaku I, Shete S. Perceptions of the Addictiveness of Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Versus Typical Cigarettes and Exposure to Tobacco Industry-Sponsored Corrective Campaign. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:1511-1518. [PMID: 38831538 PMCID: PMC11249086 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2360100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a regulatory plan to reduce the nicotine content of cigarettes. This study examines the association of exposure to industry-sponsored corrective statements on perceptions of the addictiveness of low-nicotine cigarettes relative to typical cigarettes within the general US population. METHODS The study comprised 4975 US adult respondents of the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 3). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations between exposure to tobacco industry corrective messages and perceptions of the addictiveness of low-nicotine cigarettes relative to typical cigarettes. RESULTS In the overall population, 4.1% reported that low-nicotine cigarettes were much more addictive than typical cigarettes, 67.5% said they were equally addictive, while 28.4% reported they were slightly/much less addictive. Adults exposed to industry-sponsored corrective messages had higher odds of perceiving low-nicotine cigarettes as equally addictive as typical cigarettes (aOR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.13-2.19) than those who saw no corrective messages. Those exposed to the corrective messages specifically about the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine had higher odds of perceiving low-nicotine cigarettes as equally addictive as typical cigarettes (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.81) compared to those who saw no corrective message. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that exposure to court-ordered tobacco industry corrective statements may have reinforced perceptions on the addictive potential of nicotine. However, study findings indicate a need for campaigns specifically tailored to address misperceptions observed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dale S Mantey
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Efehi Igbinomwanhia
- Department of Cardiology, Case Western Reserve University/Metrohealth, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Onyinye Omega-Njemnobi
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Henry Onyeaka
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert K Yu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Israel Agaku
- Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanjay Shete
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas Maryland Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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3
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Shiffman S, Cohen G, Liang Q, Cook DK, Karles GD. Estimating human pharmacokinetic parameters forelectronic nicotine delivery system products from chemical analyses of their aerosols. Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38808532 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The ability of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) to deliver nicotine is central to their function to substitute for cigarettes, allowing people who smoke to switch away from smoking, thus reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. The nicotine concentration in ENDS e-liquid has proved to be a poor predictor of nicotine uptake in users. Using meta-analytic methods to analyze 12 pharmacokinetic studies of nicotine-salt closed-system ENDS, this paper examines whether the mass of nicotine/puff of aerosol can predict Cmax in pharmacokinetic studies. Cmax values were available for 38 products, in 58 use conditions (including both controlled [3 s] and ad libitum puffing), comprising 1769 participant observations. Nicotine/puff data reflected chemical analyses of aerosol obtained under nonintense (3 s) or intense (6 s) machine puffing. Meta-regression analyses (weighted by reliability of Cmax estimate) assessed the relationship of nicotine/puff to Cmax. In some models, empirical data were used to impute the variation in Cmax or the nicotine/puff value under intense puffing. In simple linear models, Cmax was significantly associated with nicotine/puff under all combinations of intense/nonintense and controlled/ad-libitum conditions, with R2 values of 0.71-0.77. More complex models based on quadratic effects or log[nicotine/puff] did not generally improve upon more parsimonious linear models. Application of the model illustrates the divergence between nicotine concentration in e-liquids and expected Cmax when other ENDS parameters vary. The meta-analytic model may have utility in settings where clinical pharmacokinetic data are not available, including product development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saul Shiffman
- Pinney Associates, Inc, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gal Cohen
- JUUL Labs, Inc, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Qiwei Liang
- JUUL Labs, Inc, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - David K Cook
- JUUL Labs, Inc, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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4
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Granata S, Vivarelli F, Morosini C, Canistro D, Paolini M, Fairclough LC. Toxicological Aspects Associated with Consumption from Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS): Focus on Heavy Metals Exposure and Cancer Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2737. [PMID: 38473984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoking remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDSs) are proposed as a tool for smoking cessation. In the last few years, a growing number of different types of ENDSs were launched onto the market. Despite the manufacturing differences, ENDSs can be classified as "liquid e-cigarettes" (e-cigs) equipped with an atomizer that vaporizes a liquid composed of vegetable glycerin (VG), polypropylene glycol (PG), and nicotine, with the possible addition of flavorings; otherwise, the "heated tobacco products" (HTPs) heat tobacco sticks through contact with an electronic heating metal element. The presence of some metals in the heating systems, as well as in solder joints, involves the possibility that heavy metal ions can move from these components to the liquid, or they can be adsorbed into the tobacco stick from the heating blade in the case of HTPs. Recent evidence has indicated the presence of heavy metals in the refill liquids and in the mainstream such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). The present review discusses the toxicological aspects associated with the exposition of heavy metals by consumption from ENDSs, focusing on metal carcinogenesis risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Granata
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Vivarelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Morosini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Canistro
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Moreno Paolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucy C Fairclough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, East Dr, Nottingham NG7 2TQ, UK
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5
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Mercincavage M, Waugh LK, Gratale S, Wackowski O, Pearson JL, House K, O'Connor R, Strasser AA. Acute effects of charcoal filters and package color on cigarette perceptions and use behaviors: Results from a randomized pilot study examining Natural American Spirit "Sky". Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 255:111080. [PMID: 38198898 PMCID: PMC10843540 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Charcoal-filtered cigarettes have been available for decades but have never held a major share of the U.S. cigarette market. This pilot study gathered initial behavioral data characterizing how "Sky"-a recently introduced charcoal-filtered cigarette variety that uses potentially misleading marketing features-is used and what impact its packaging color has on consumer perceptions. METHODS Forty adult daily non-menthol cigarettes users (52.5% male, 75.0% White, mean age = 46.1, 14.3 mean cigarettes/day) completed a single-session deception study utilizing a 2 ×2 mixed factorial design to manipulate cigarette filter condition (charcoal vs. non-charcoal) and pack color (light vs. dark). Participants smoked two cigarettes identical in appearance and packaging but differing in filter type (blinded and order counterbalanced) and completed pre- and post-cigarette CO samples and post-cigarette questionnaires. RESULTS Participants endorsed more favorable subjective ratings, puffed less of, held more correct beliefs about risks, and expressed greater intentions to use the charcoal (vs. non-charcoal)-filtered cigarette (p's <0.05). Pack color had few effects on outcomes; however, cigarettes in light vs. dark colored packs were rated as cleaner tasting (p <0.01). Neither filter condition nor pack color affected CO boost. There were no interaction effects on any outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Under blinded conditions, Sky charcoal-filtered cigarettes are initially appealing independent of their packaging color. Findings warrant further study of these effects on perceptions, behavior, and harm exposure after longer, open-label use periods. Findings may inform regulatory decisions regarding cigarette packaging and filter composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Mercincavage
- Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ, United States; University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, United States; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Lizza K Waugh
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stefanie Gratale
- Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ, United States; University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, United States
| | - Olivia Wackowski
- Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ, United States; University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, United States
| | - Jennifer L Pearson
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, United States; University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Kendra House
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Richard O'Connor
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Andrew A Strasser
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, United States; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Singer JM, Tackett AP, Alalwan MA, Roberts ME. Nicotine dependence among undergraduates who use nicotine salt-based e-cigarettes. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38227916 PMCID: PMC11250575 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2299425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the relationship between use patterns of a popular e-cigarette brand using nicotine salts, JUUL, and symptoms of nicotine dependence in a college cohort. PARTICIPANTS Data for this study came from a prospective cohort of undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university from 2018 to 2019. METHODS Among participants who had ever tried a JUUL (N = 411), univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to test the associations between use frequency (past 30-day use) and quantity (time to finish a pod) and nicotine dependence at follow up. RESULTS In the multivariable models, both frequency of use and quantity of use were associated with subsequent nicotine dependence, based on most indicators of dependence. CONCLUSIONS As salt-based nicotine is now present in the most popular e-cigarette brands used by young people, such findings inform our contemporary understanding of e-cigarettes' addictive potential and can help inform campus-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill M. Singer
- Division of Health Behavior/Health Promotion, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Alayna P. Tackett
- Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Mahmood A. Alalwan
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Megan E. Roberts
- Division of Health Behavior/Health Promotion, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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7
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Hossaini Motlagh A, Alinejad N, Kazembeigi F, Torkashvand J, Tashauoei HR, Fattahi M. Quality variations of leachate resulting from cigarette filter recycling as a challenge for its management. Sci Rep 2024; 14:972. [PMID: 38200131 PMCID: PMC10781975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Recycling is known as a solution for cigarette filter management, but this may cause the release of trapped pollutants in it. Cigarette smoke toxins and chemicals that trapped in the cigarette filter can accumulate in the recycling leachate. In this study, littered cigarette filters and freshly smoked cigarette filters were recycled and the resulting leachate was analyzed. The results showed that the minimum and maximum Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of the studied leachates were 2100 mg/L and 11,300 mg/L, respectively. The maximum temporal variation in the studied leachate quality was 74.28%, but the maximum spatial variation was 314.2%. COD in the freshly smoked sample was 2600-9200 mg/L more than the littered samples. The average concentration of chromium, lead, nickel, and cadmium in littered samples was 0.023, 0.024, 0.045, and 0.019 mg/L, respectively. Environmental conditions such as humidity, the efficiency of the urban cleaning system in reducing the resistance of littered filters, the difference in the quality of the filter and tobacco, and the difference in smoking behaviors were effective in this variation. Reducing the toxicity of cigarette smoke and improving the efficiency of the urban cleaning system can lead to the same quality, but leachate treatment is necessary to reduce the environmental risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Hossaini Motlagh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Navid Alinejad
- Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Farogh Kazembeigi
- Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Javad Torkashvand
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Tashauoei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health and Biomedical Engineering, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Fattahi
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam.
- School of Engineering & Technology, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam.
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8
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Freitas-Lemos R, Tegge AN, Tomlinson DC, Yeh YH, Stein JS, Michael Cummings K, Fong GT, Shields PG, Hatsukami DK, Bickel WK. Illegal product purchasing in the experimental tobacco marketplace: Effects of menthol cigarette and cigarette ventilation ban. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 253:111015. [PMID: 37951005 PMCID: PMC10885639 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.111015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco regulations may increase demand for illegal cigarettes. We use the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace to estimate the impact of banning menthol cigarettes (Experiment 1) and decreasing allowable cigarette filter ventilation levels (Experiment 2). METHODS Crowdsourced participants were randomized into one of four groups (2×2 factorial design). Experiment 1 included menthol availability (yes/no) by purchasing option (legal only vs illegal available). Experiment 2 included filter-vented cigarettes availability (yes/no) by purchasing option (legal only vs illegal available). Participants were given an individualized budget to purchase tobacco. Percent budget spent was the outcome measure. RESULTS Experiment 1, with a legal marketplace only, non-menthol cigarette purchasing was lower (p=0.010) and electronic-cigarette purchasing was higher (p=0.016), when cigarettes were banned compared to when they were available. With an illegal marketplace, switching to legal non-menthol cigarettes was less likely (p<0.001) and purchasing illegal menthol cigarettes was higher (p<0.001), when cigarettes were banned compared to when they were available. Experiment 2, with a legal marketplace only, cigarette purchasing was lower (p=0.010), when the participant's filtered vented cigarettes were banned compared to when they were available. With an illegal marketplace, purchasing the legal low-ventilated cigarette option was lower (p<0.001) and significant differences in illegal filter-vented cigarette purchasing were not observed, when their filter-vented cigarettes were banned compared to when they were available legally. CONCLUSIONS Without an illegal option, both restrictions decreased cigarette purchasing, but the menthol ban increased e-cigarette purchasing. With an illegal option, a menthol ban increased illegal cigarette purchasing, but decreasing filter ventilation did not.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison N Tegge
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA; Department of Statistics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Devin C Tomlinson
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Yu-Hua Yeh
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Stein
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - K Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Geoffrey T Fong
- Department of Psychology and School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter G Shields
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University and James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Warren K Bickel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA.
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Everaert S, Schoeters G, Lardon F, Janssens A, Van Larebeke N, Raquez JM, Bervoets L, Spanoghe P. Protecting public health and the environment: towards a general ban on cellulose acetate cigarette filters in the European Union. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1282655. [PMID: 38026410 PMCID: PMC10644169 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1282655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
After the establishment of a causal relationship between tobacco use and cancer in the 1950s, cellulose acetate filters were introduced with the claim to reduce the adverse health impact of unfiltered cigarettes. Often perceived to be more pleasant and healthy, filters encouraged smoking. However, filtered cigarettes are more deeply inhaled to obtain the same nicotine demand while altered combustion releases more tobacco-specific nitrosamines. The increasing use of cigarette filter ventilation is associated with a sharp rise in lung adenocarcinomas in recent decades. While not preventing adverse health effects, a global environmental problem has been created due to the non-biodegradable filter litter, causing ecotoxicological effects and the spread of microplastics. Recently, the Belgian Superior Health Council advised policymakers to ban cigarette filters as single-use plastics at both national and European levels. This article outlines the arguments used to justify this plea (human health and environment), the expected effects of a filter ban, as well as the public reception and reactions of the tobacco industry. The specific context of the European Union is discussed including the revision of the Single-Use Plastics Directive, affording a new opportunity to ban plastic filters. This perspective article aims to fuel the momentum and cooperation among member states for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Everaert
- Chemical Environmental Factors Group, Superior Health Council, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Filip Lardon
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annelies Janssens
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Marie Raquez
- Polymer and Composite Materials Department, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Spanoghe
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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10
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Pennings JLA, Ferris Wayne G, Klerx WNM, Pauwels CGGM, Talhout R. Variations in cigarette brand characteristics: can consumers tell the difference? Tob Control 2023; 32:467-472. [PMID: 34845063 PMCID: PMC10313973 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sensory experience is an important determinant of smoking initiation, brand choice and harm perception, but little is known about how cigarette design shapes sensory experience. This study reports which variations in tobacco blend and design characteristics available on the market are likely to be perceived as different by consumers. METHODS Truth Tobacco Industry Documents was reviewed for studies showing noticeable sensory differences resulting from variations in tobacco blend and design characteristics. These differences were compared with tobacco product data as available in the Dutch section of the European Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG) system on 30 April 2020. RESULTS Industry documents identified discrimination thresholds for ventilation, pressure drop, tobacco weight, filter length, and tar and nicotine levels in smoke while evidence for other design characteristics was less conclusive. In the 103 different cigarette varieties in the EU-CEG database, five main types of cigarettes could be identified by principal component analysis, differing in (combinations of) design characteristics. The most significant differences between brand varieties were tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide emissions and associated parameters filter ventilation, filter length, cigarette length and tobacco weight. CONCLUSIONS While some clusters of brand varieties provided a noticeably different product for consumers, in many cases design differences within these clusters did not exceed the expected discrimination threshold. This indicates that many products on the market are not discernibly different for consumers, and that proliferation of brand varieties has a non-sensory purpose, such as marketing. Policy makers should consider limiting available brand varieties and regulating design characteristics to reduce product appeal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen L A Pennings
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Walther N M Klerx
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte G G M Pauwels
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Reinskje Talhout
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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11
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Carroll DM, Tessier KM, Cummings KM, O'Connor RJ, Reisinger S, Shields PG, Stepanov IS, Luo X, Hatsukami DK, Rees VW. Risk perceptions and continued smoking as a function of cigarette filter ventilation level among US youth and young adults who smoke. Tob Control 2023; 32:473-479. [PMID: 34857645 PMCID: PMC9160200 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While evidence demonstrates that the industry's marketing of cigarettes with higher filter ventilation (FV) misleads adults about their health risks, there is no research on the relationships between FV, risk perceptions and smoking trajectories among youth (ages 12-17) and young adults (ages 18-24). METHODS Data on FV levels of major US cigarette brands/sub-brands were merged with the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study to examine whether FV level in cigarettes used by wave 1 youth/young adults (n=1970) predicted continued smoking at waves 2-4, and whether those relationships were mediated by perceived risk of their cigarette brand. FV was modelled based on tertiles (0.2%-11.8%, low; 11.9%-23.2%, moderate; 23.3%-61.1%, high) to predict daily smoking, past 30-day smoking and change in number of days smoking at successive waves. RESULTS The odds of perceiving one's brand as less harmful than other cigarette brands was 2.21 times higher in the high versus low FV group (p=0.0146). Relationships between FV and smoking outcomes at successive waves were non-significant (all p>0.05). CONCLUSION Youth and young adults who use higher FV cigarettes perceived their brand as less harmful compared with other brands. However, level of FV was not associated with continued smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Mowls Carroll
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - K Michael Cummings
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Richard J O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Sarah Reisinger
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Peter G Shields
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Irina S Stepanov
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xianghua Luo
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Vaughan W Rees
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Cummings KM, Roberson A, Carroll DM, Stepanov I, Hatsukami D, Rees VW, O’Connor RJ. Illusion of filtration: Evidence from tobacco industry documents. Tob Induc Dis 2023; 21:85. [PMID: 37360043 PMCID: PMC10288540 DOI: 10.18332/tid/166093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We compared the design features of popular filtered and non-filtered cigarettes sold in the United States between 1960 and 1990, to assess the relationship between cigarette filter and tobacco weight. METHODS We analyzed data on the design features of six popular filtered and three non-filtered cigarette brands sold in the US including the weight of tobacco used provided in the Cigarette Information Reports produced by Philip Morris Tobacco Company between 1960 and 1990. We also collected information on other design features such as stick length and circumference, the percentage of reconstituted tobacco in the blend, among other product parameters. We used joinpoint regression to test for trends in outcome variables for each brand assessed between 1960 and 1990. RESULTS In all years, filtered cigarettes had less tobacco by weight compared to non-filtered cigarettes. The lower average weight of tobacco found in filtered cigarettes appears to be due to a combination of factors including stick and filter length, and the amount of reconstituted tobacco in the blend. The average percentages of total alkaloids and expanded tobacco increased over time but were similar between filtered and non-filtered brands. CONCLUSIONS While various design features of popular filtered and non-filtered brands changed between 1960 and 1990, the observed reduction in tobacco weight among filtered brands was perhaps the most salient in terms of disease risk. Less tobacco in a filtered cigarette calls into question the presumed exclusive role of cigarette filter tips in the reduced health risks of filtered versus non-filtered cigarette smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, United States
| | - Avery Roberson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, United States
| | - Dana M. Carroll
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Irina Stepanov
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Dorothy Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Vaughan W. Rees
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Richard J. O’Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, United States
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13
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van der Eijk Y, Teo KW, Tan GPP, Chua WM. Tobacco industry strategies for flavour capsule cigarettes: analysis of patents and internal industry documents. Tob Control 2023; 32:e53-e61. [PMID: 34611048 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global market for flavour capsule variants (FCVs), cigarettes with a crushable flavour capsule, has grown exponentially. To inform further regulatory efforts, it is important to understand tobacco industry strategies for FCVs. METHODS Analysis of data from 65 patents and 179 internal tobacco industry documents, retrieved via snowball searches in Patsnap and the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library, describing tobacco industry developments related to FCVs. We used an inductive coding method to identify themes relating to FCV features or developments. RESULTS Tobacco companies were developing FCVs since the 1960s, with little market success until the 2000s following the launch of Camel Crush, a brand which targeted millennials (in their teens or early 20s at the time). Tobacco companies have patented, but not yet marketed, FCVs with microcapsule surface coatings, adjustable or heat-triggered flavour release systems, airflow manipulation features, transparent filters to visualise flavour release, and various flavours and additives for capsules including nicotine/tobacco extracts for an on-demand nicotine hit. Tobacco companies developed FCVs purported to be reduced harm, although their own tests showed that FCVs have higher toxicant concentrations. They have also developed loose flavour capsule units designed to fit into cigarettes, packs, or recessed filters to enable users to customise cigarettes and circumvent tobacco flavour bans. CONCLUSIONS To prevent tobacco companies from targeting young people and exploiting regulatory loopholes, regulations on tobacco products should ban flavours and consider the broad variety of FCV designs, additives and loose products designed to impart flavour into tobacco products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette van der Eijk
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ken Wah Teo
- Preventive Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Grace Ping Ping Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wee Meng Chua
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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14
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Freitas-Lemos R, Tegge AN, Athamneh LN, Yeh YH, Craft WH, Stein JS, Smith TT, Stepanov I, Rees VW, Cummings KM, O'Connor RJ, Shields PG, Hatsukami DK, Bickel WK. Is perception reality? Associations among "light" cigarettes and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 244:109709. [PMID: 36642000 PMCID: PMC10081565 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cigarette filter ventilation and light descriptors are associated with lowered perceptions of risk and smoking more cigarettes per day (CPD). This study examined the relationship between usual cigarette ventilation, perception, and CPD. METHODS A crowdsourced sample (N = 995) of individuals who smoke higher-ventilated (=>20% ventilation) or lower-ventilated (=<10% ventilation) cigarettes identified their usual cigarette as "light" or "full flavor", and reported their average CPD. RESULTS We found: 1) no association between ventilation status and perception of light versus full flavor (AUC=0.58), with the inaccurate perception being more prevalent in younger individuals (p = 0.041) and those who smoke L&M (73%, p < 0.001) and Camel (61%, p = 0.006) brands; and 2) perception, but not ventilation of usual cigarette, was significantly associated with CPD (p = 0.006), with individuals who perceived their cigarettes as light reporting an average of 13% more cigarettes per day (2.6 CPD), compared to those who perceived their cigarette as full flavor. CONCLUSIONS Perceptions of light versus full-flavor, but not ventilation status, predicted CPD. These findings may inform anti-smoking health communication strategies and smoking cessation interventions. IMPLICATIONS Tobacco control policies should eradicate the perception of cigarettes as light or full-flavored. Future research investigating the associations between cigarette filter ventilation and smoking behavior should consider the confounding effects that may lie in an individual's perceptions of their cigarettes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison N Tegge
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA; Department of Statistics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Liqa N Athamneh
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Yu-Hua Yeh
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - William H Craft
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Stein
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Tracy T Smith
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Irina Stepanov
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Vaughan W Rees
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - K Michael Cummings
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Richard J O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Peter G Shields
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Warren K Bickel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA.
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15
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Ashley DL, Zhu W, Watson CH, Bravo R, Ngac PK, Valentin-Blasini L, Pickworth WB, Kurti AN, Cunningham C, Blount BC. Mouth Level Intake of Nicotine from Three Brands of Little Filtered Cigars with Widely Differing Product Characteristics Among Adult Consumers. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:43-52. [PMID: 36598842 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Little filtered cigars are tobacco products with many cigarette-like characteristics. However, despite cigars falling under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority, characterizing flavors, which are still allowed in little filtered cigars, and filter design may influence how people use the products and the resulting exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents. We estimated nicotine mouth level intake (MLI) from analyses of little cigar filter butt solanesol levels, brand characteristics, carbon monoxide boost, and puff volume in 48 dual cigarette/cigar users during two repeat bouts of ad lib smoking of three little filtered cigar brands. Mean nicotine MLI for the three brands was significantly different with Swisher Sweets (0.1% ventilation) Cherry at 1.20 mg nicotine, Cheyenne Menthol (1.5%) at 0.63 mg, and Santa Fe unflavored (49%) at 0.94 mg. The association between nicotine MLI and puff volume was the same between Cheyenne Menthol and Santa Fe unflavored. However, these were different from Swisher Sweets Cherry. At least five main factors─flavor, ventilation, filter design, nicotine delivery related to tar, and user puff volume─may directly or indirectly impact MLI and its association with other measures. We found that users of little filtered cigars that have different filter ventilation and flavor draw dissimilar amounts of nicotine from the product, which may be accompanied by differences in exposure to other harmful smoke constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Ashley
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Wanzhe Zhu
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Clifford H Watson
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Roberto Bravo
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Phuong K Ngac
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Liza Valentin-Blasini
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Wallace B Pickworth
- Battelle Public Health Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21209, United States
| | - Allison N Kurti
- Center for Tobacco Products, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Colin Cunningham
- Center for Tobacco Products, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Benjamin C Blount
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
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16
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Mercincavage M, Pacek LR, Thrasher J, Cappella JN, Delnevo C, Donny EC, Strasser AA. Effects of advertising features on smokers' and non-smokers' perceptions of a reduced nicotine cigarette modified risk tobacco product. Tob Control 2023; 32:6-12. [PMID: 33858965 PMCID: PMC8517036 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research is needed to determine the impact of marketing on perceptions and use of reduced nicotine content (RNC) cigarettes, particularly as US regulators have permitted the sale of an RNC cigarette modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) that seeks further authorisation to advertise using modified risk claims. This study examined the effects of two advertising elements (product name and disclaimer content) on perceptions of an RNC cigarette MRTP. METHODS Adult participants (n=807, 28.7% smokers, 58.2% male, 74.2% non-Latinx white) completed an online MTurk survey. Participants were randomised to view one of six RNC cigarette advertisements, using a 2×3 between-subject factorial design to manipulate product name ('Moonlight' vs 'Moonrise') and disclaimer content (industry-proposed: 'Nicotine is addictive. Less nicotine does NOT mean a safer cigarette' vs focused: 'Less nicotine does NOT mean a safer cigarette' vs no content), then completed recall and product perception questionnaires. RESULTS All participants who viewed the industry-proposed disclaimer (vs no content) perceived greater addiction risk (p's<0.05). Non-smokers who viewed this disclaimer also perceived greater health risks and held fewer false beliefs (p's<0.05). Smokers who viewed Moonlight (vs Moonrise) ads perceived lower health risks (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Disclaimer content may effectively inform consumers about addiction risk of a new RNC cigarette MRTP, and further inform non-smokers about health risks. This element, however, had little effect on perceived health risks among smokers, among whom the Moonlight product name was associated with health risk misperceptions similar to the banned 'light' descriptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Mercincavage
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren R Pacek
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - James Thrasher
- Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph N Cappella
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cristine Delnevo
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Eric C Donny
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew A Strasser
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- University of Pennsylvania-Rutgers University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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17
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van der Eijk Y, Yang AY. Tobacco industry marketing adaptations to Singapore plain packaging. Tob Control 2022; 31:744-749. [PMID: 33980723 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Singapore has implemented plain packaging, a measure that strips all colours, logos and branding elements from tobacco packs. In other countries, tobacco companies responded to plain packaging with a variety of marketing tactics. Our goal was to describe the tobacco industry's marketing adaptations to Singapore plain packaging. METHODS Qualitative analysis of 378 cigarette packs sampled from Singapore retailers in March 2019, March 2020 and January 2021, 12 months prior to, 2 weeks prior to and 6 months after plain packaging phase-in, respectively. For each pack, we collected descriptive information on the brand and variant name, pack and stick dimensions, pack shape, differentiating features and distinctive scents, as well as photographic data of the pack, cigarette sticks and any distinct features. We used the March 2019 collection as our baseline dataset, and March 2020 and January 2021 collections as comparison datasets to examine changes in tobacco marketing strategies just before and after plain packaging phase-in. RESULTS Around Singapore's plain packaging phase-in, tobacco companies launched variants with flavour capsules, novelty filter features and new flavours and used more descriptive variant names reflecting the variant's colour coding or market positioning. Tobacco companies revamped some existing variants, often with Japanese marketing themes to convey a more premium product image. After plain packaging, tobacco companies used longer packs and variations in stick length, filter length and foil texture to further differentiate products. CONCLUSIONS Following plain packaging in Singapore, tobacco companies rely increasingly on nomenclature and the cigarette stick itself to market and differentiate products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette van der Eijk
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adonsia Yating Yang
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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18
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Evans-Reeves K, Lauber K, Hiscock R. The 'filter fraud' persists: the tobacco industry is still using filters to suggest lower health risks while destroying the environment. Tob Control 2022; 31:e80-e82. [PMID: 33903277 PMCID: PMC9340047 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathrin Lauber
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, UK
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19
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Sharma A, June KM, Norton KJ, Fix B, Bansal-Travers M, Rees VW, J O'Connor R. Intention to purchase alternative tobacco products as a function of smoking status and responses to advertising, packaging, and sensory experiences. Addict Behav 2022; 130:107291. [PMID: 35220153 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tobacco manufacturers design and marketed products with appealing sensory characteristics to drive product uptake and continued use. We assessed smokers' and non-smokers' cognitive, affective, and sensory responses to Camel Snus (CS) and Nicotine gum (NG) to gauge future intentions to use. METHOD In a single laboratory session, 348 participants (including current smokers and nonsmokers in Buffalo, NY and Boston, MA) were exposed to CS and NG products in counterbalanced order. Exposure involved a cumulative set of 3 steps in which participants i) viewed an advertisement; ii) viewed the packaging, and iii) touched and smelled the product, without actual use. Current daily and non-daily smokers were invited to undertake a fourth exposure step by sampling the product. Following product exposure, participants completed perception measures and reported future intentions to use either product at the end of the survey. After each exposure, participants' reported feelings of valence and arousal. RESULTS Smokers reported greater preference to try NG (63.8%) compared with CS (17.4%) or neither (18.8%), whereas majority of nonsmokers preferred neither product (64.3%) (p < 0.01). Of those offered to sample the products, 78.3% daily smokers and 68.4% non-daily smokers opted to sample. When asked about intentions to try, a greater proportion of smokers stated a preference to try NG over CS, as did the small number of nonsmokers who expressed a preference. CONCLUSION Intentions to try CS were low despite different levels of exposure to product, and this low product appeal and interest in use may translate to limited potential of CS to serve as a reduced harm product for smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshika Sharma
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States.
| | - Kristie M June
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States.
| | - Kaila J Norton
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States; Center for Tobacco Research, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States.
| | - Brian Fix
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States.
| | - Maansi Bansal-Travers
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States.
| | - Vaughan W Rees
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States.
| | - Richard J O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States.
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20
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Perkins KA. Acute nicotine reinforcement requires ability to discriminate the stimulus effects of nicotine. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2022; 30:253-268. [PMID: 33119384 PMCID: PMC8406437 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This review of research on behavioral discrimination of nicotine and how it informs public health policy for reducing risk of tobacco dependence is adapted from Kenneth A. Perkins's American Psychological Association Division 28 (Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse) 2020 Med Associates Brady/Schuster Award Lecture. The author's initial programmatic clinical research on nicotine is introduced, especially efforts to develop and validate a novel method of acute nicotine dosing. After the public health rationale for characterizing the discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine in humans are described, details from two separate programs of research on nicotine discrimination in humans are presented. The first, conducted with nicotine dosing by nasal spray, documented that humans could discriminate nicotine administered rapidly, examined nicotine's neuropharmacological specificity, identified discrimination threshold dose in smokers and nonsmokers, and explored other conditions that might alter ability to discriminate its effects. The second, more recent program focused on threshold doses for discrimination of nicotine by cigarette smoking, a program that was very difficult to do until the past decade, and how nicotine's self-reported "reward" and preference via choice behavior relate to its discriminability. Differences due to menthol and degree of tobacco dependence were also examined. For each of these two programs, the main findings of selected studies are noted, followed by very recent work on nicotine discrimination and choice that informs Food and Drug Administration's efforts to formulate public policy to improve health and reduce the nearly half million American deaths per year due to persistent tobacco use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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21
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Scollo M, Branston JR. Where to next for countries with high tobacco taxes? The potential for greater control of tobacco pricing through licensing regulation. Tob Control 2022; 31:235-240. [PMID: 35241594 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Optimising the taxation of tobacco products should be among the highest priorities for health and hence economic policy in every country. The WHO Technical Manual on Tobacco Tax Policy and Administration released in April 2021 provides invaluable advice, including 26 best practice recommendations on policy design, administrative efficiency and addressing industry tactics to circumvent tobacco tax increases. Introducing and increasing tobacco taxes is the most important tobacco control measure for any jurisdiction. The effects of simple tax structures, high tax levels, and frequent above-inflation increases in specific excise duties can be enhanced through strict controls on packaging (including pack size), product design, and discounting. However, even with such measures, tobacco companies can continue to undermine the effectiveness of tax policy by offering some products in their ranges at very low prices, as well as gradually and selectively increasing the prices of some but not all products after tax increases. This paper is aimed at policymakers in countries that have already adopted best practice tax policy. It explores the idea of wholesale price capping combined with retail licensing to address the problems of brand proliferation, dispersion of prices, cushioning and strategic under/overshifting of tax increases, thereby radically and sustainably increasing the effectiveness of tobacco tax policy while also raising additional tax revenue for governments by reducing industry profitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Scollo
- Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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22
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Mercincavage M, Albelda B, Mays D, Souprountchouk V, Giovenco DP, Audrain-McGovern J, Strasser AA. Shedding 'light' on cigarette pack design: colour differences in product perceptions, use and exposure following the US descriptor ban. Tob Control 2022; 31:19-24. [PMID: 32994296 PMCID: PMC8261712 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Many countries removed misleading descriptors (eg, 'light,' 'mild') from cigarette packaging because they falsely conveyed messages of reduced risk. It is unclear if relabelled products currently promote misperceptions or differences in product use and toxicant exposure. We compared product perceptions, use and exposure between a US sample of Marlboro Gold (formerly 'light') and Red smokers. METHODS 240 non-treatment-seeking adult daily Marlboro smokers (70% male, 71% White, mean cigarettes/day=16.4 (SD=8.3)) completed two laboratory sessions over a 5-day period. During sessions, participants smoked two cigarettes through a topography device to capture their puffing behaviour, provided precigarette and postcigarette carbon monoxide (CO) assessments, and completed risk perception and subjective rating questionnaires. Self-reported cigarettes per day were verified via daily filter collection; urine collected at the end of the period was assayed for nicotine metabolites. RESULTS Gold (n=49) smokers were more likely than Red (n=191) to incorrectly believe their cigarettes had less nicotine and tar than regular cigarettes (ps<0.001), and rated them as weaker, less harsh, and mild tasting (ps<0.05). Differences between Red and Gold smokers in cigarettes per day and puffing behaviours trended towards significance (ps<0.1). Notably, there were no group differences on CO boost or total nicotine equivalents (ps>0.1). CONCLUSIONS Misperceptions about nicotine and tar exist years after rebranding Marlboro Lights as Marlboro Gold. Biological results support that Gold smokers do not have lower toxicant exposure. The US should consider comprehensive packaging or product design regulations to properly inform smokers of product risks.Trial registeration number NCT02301351.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Mercincavage
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Benjamin Albelda
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Darren Mays
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Valentina Souprountchouk
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel P Giovenco
- Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Janet Audrain-McGovern
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew A Strasser
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Watson CH, Yan J, Stanfill S, Valentin-Blasini L, Bravo Cardenas R, Blount BC. A Low-Cost, High-Throughput Digital Image Analysis of Stain Patterns on Smoked Cigarette Filter Butts to Estimate Mainstream Smoke Exposure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10546. [PMID: 34639846 PMCID: PMC8508382 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Standard machine smoking protocols provide useful information for examining the impact of design parameters, such as filter ventilation, on mainstream smoke delivery. Unfortunately, their results do not accurately reflect human smoke exposure. Clinical research and topography devices in human studies yield insights into how products are used, but a clinical setting or smoking a cigarette attached to such a device may alter smoking behavior. To better understand smokers' use of filtered cigarette products in a more natural environment, we developed a low-cost, high-throughput approach to estimate mainstream cigarette smoke exposure on a per-cigarette basis. This approach uses an inexpensive flatbed scanner to scan smoked cigarette filter butts and custom software to analyze tar-staining patterns. Total luminosity, or optical staining density, of the scanned images provides quantitative information proportional to mainstream smoke-constituent deliveries on a cigarette-by-cigarette basis. Duplicate sample analysis using this new approach and our laboratory's gold-standard liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) solanesol method yielded comparable results (+7% bias) from the analysis of 20 commercial cigarettes brands (menthol and nonmentholated). The brands varied in design parameters such as length, filter ventilation, and diameter. Plots correlating the luminosity to mainstream smoked-nicotine deliveries on a per-cigarette basis for these cigarette brands were linear (average R2 > 0.91 for nicotine and R2 > 0.83 for the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK), on a per-brand basis, with linearity ranging from 0.15 to 3.00 mg nicotine/cigarette. Analysis of spent cigarette filters allows exposures to be characterized on a per-cigarette basis or a "daily dose" via summing across results from all filter butts collected over a 24 h period. This scanner method has a 100-fold lower initial capital cost for equipment than the LC/MS/MS solanesol method and provides high-throughput results (~200 samples per day). Thus, this new method is useful for characterizing exposure related to filtered tobacco-product use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford H. Watson
- U.S. Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE MS F-55, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (J.Y.); (S.S.); (L.V.-B.); (R.B.C.); (B.C.B.)
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24
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Silva ALOD, Piras SS, Bialous SA, Moreira JC. Health without filters: the health and environmental impacts of cigarette filters. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2021; 26:2395-2401. [PMID: 34231748 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232021266.23692019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco-related diseases kill eight million people worldwide ever year and are responsible for thousands of cases of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses in Brazil. Cigarette filters are believed by many to reduce the health risks of smoking. This article outlines the history of the technology of filters and discusses the impacts of these cigarette design features and their regulation. We conducted a literature review to assess the impacts of this technology. The results show that filters were initially developed for aesthetic purposes and later improved and marketed as a harm reduction technology. The most widely-used filters are those made of cellulose acetate with or without activated carbon. Despite smokers' beliefs and advertising claims, filters have no health benefits and filter tip ventilation can increase the health risks of smoking. Filters can also make cigarettes more appealing and cause significant environmental impacts. Cigarette filters have no health benefits and lull smokers into a false sense of security and should therefore be banned.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Luiz Oliveira da Silva
- Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Av. Rio Branco 147 16º andar, Centro. 20081971 Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil.
| | - Stefania Schimaneski Piras
- Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Av. Rio Branco 147 16º andar, Centro. 20081971 Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil.
| | - Stella Aguinaga Bialous
- University of California San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Josino Costa Moreira
- Centro de Estudos da Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil
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25
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King B, Borland R, Le Grande M, O'Connor R, Fong G, McNeill A, Hatsukami D, Cummings M. Smokers' awareness of filter ventilation, and how they believe it affects them: findings from the ITC Four Country Survey. Tob Control 2021; 32:tobaccocontrol-2020-056134. [PMID: 34131073 PMCID: PMC8717261 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Filter ventilation creates sensations of 'lightness' or 'smoothness' and is also highly effective for controlling machine-tested yields of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nearly all factory-made cigarettes (FMC) now have filter ventilation in countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. Research conducted before 'light' and 'mild' labelling was banned found low smoker awareness of filter ventilation and its effects. This study explores current levels of awareness of filter ventilation and current understanding of its effects in these four countries. METHODS We used data from the 2018 wave of the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey with samples from USA, England, Canada and Australia. Analyses were conducted initially on a weighted sample of 11 844, and subsequently on 7541 daily FMC smokers. FINDINGS Only 40.3% of all respondents reported being aware of filter ventilation. Among daily FMC smokers, only 9.4% believed their cigarettes had filter ventilation. Believing that their usual cigarettes are smoother was positively associated with believing they are also less harmful. Both these beliefs independently predict believing their cigarettes are ventilated (smoother OR=1.97 (95% CI 1.50 to 2.59) and less harmful OR=2.41 (95% CI 1.66 to 3.49) in relation to those believing each characteristic is average. INTERPRETATION Awareness of filter ventilation is currently low, despite decades of public 'education efforts around the misleading nature of 'light' and 'mild" descriptors. Few smokers realise that their cigarettes almost certainly are vented. Smokers who believed their cigarettes have filter ventilation were more likely to believe they were both smoother and less harmful. Awareness of the technology appears to be insufficient to prevent smokers being deceived by it. Filter ventilation is inherently misleading to smokers and it is time to ban it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill King
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne - Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ron Borland
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne - Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Le Grande
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne - Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Geoffrey Fong
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ann McNeill
- UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Michael Cummings
- Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Matassa R, Cattaruzza MS, Sandorfi F, Battaglione E, Relucenti M, Familiari G. Direct imaging evidences of metal inorganic contaminants traced into cigarettes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 411:125092. [PMID: 33858086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Today, environmental health research on toxicological adverse effects of metal-inorganic materials diffused by cigarettes represents a new challenge for assessing new health risks directly related to the critical chemical-size features of the particles. Therefore, morpho-chemical analyses of hazardous particles become critical in response to the distinctive assumptions about the origin, evolution, and coexisting phases. Here, we report a detailed investigation through direct microscopy imaging of metal-inorganic contaminants for one traditional and two heat-not-burn commercial cigarettes of three different brands. Chemical-size studies revealed the critical presence of heavy metal-inorganic nanostructured microparticles on both paper and filter components of the cigarette, before and after smoking. The direct experimental imaging evidenced on how hazardous particles evolved in mass-size forming coexisting multi-phases of large agglomerate because of the persistence and accumulative effect of the heating puffing. The estimated porosity of the unsuitable engineered filters validated the allowed migration of micrometric pollutants independently from their intrinsic size-shape property. Furthermore, the inappropriate design of the filters made it an adverse sponge reservoir capable of collecting all possible hazardous chemical agents potentially toxic. These substantial results strongly support experimentally the tremendous effect of the smoke capable of transporting and manipulating a high amount of elusive particles, as a particles heat carrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Matassa
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Sofia Cattaruzza
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Sandorfi
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Ezio Battaglione
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Relucenti
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Familiari
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Perkins KA, Karelitz JL. A Forced-Choice Procedure to Assess the Acute Relative Reinforcing Effects of Nicotine Dose per se in Humans. Nicotine Tob Res 2021; 22:1685-1693. [PMID: 31800053 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntz224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A method to assess acute reinforcement due to nicotine may aid identification of doses needed to maintain dependence. After describing development of a forced-choice procedure, results are presented from two studies using it to determine the relative reinforcing effects of nicotine dose per se. AIMS AND METHODS Choice between a higher versus a very low or no nicotine option, via smoking (Study 1, n = 59) and via nasal spray (Study 2, n = 42), was assessed in nontreatment-seeking dependent smokers abstinent overnight. Using a within-subject design, different nicotine levels for each product were administered under blind conditions, initially to assess their discriminability (Study 1: 1.3-17 mg/g each vs. 0.4 mg/g nicotine Spectrum cigarettes; Study 2: 2.5 µg/kg vs. 0 µg/kg nicotine per spray). At the end of sessions for each study, participants engaged in forced-choice trials to assess preference, requiring a fixed number of puffs/sprays for one and/or the other. RESULTS Confirming the procedure's validity, the choice of the higher nicotine option was significantly greater than that for the very low or no nicotine option in both studies. In Study 1, choice relative to 0.4 mg/g was greater for cigarettes 5.3 mg/g or more but not 2.3 mg/g or less (p = .003 for the interaction of higher content vs. 0.4 mg/g comparison). In Study 2, choice was greater for the nicotine versus placebo spray (p < .005), as nicotine was preferred nearly twice as much as the placebo. CONCLUSION This forced-choice procedure may efficiently determine the relative reinforcing value of a nicotine dose per se. IMPLICATIONS The forced-choice procedure described here may identify nicotine doses that are acutely reinforcing in dependent smokers. A priori research of choice comparisons between small versus zero nicotine doses could inform clinical research in larger and more diverse samples to determine nicotine contents in cigarettes, and perhaps in other commercial products, that are not reinforcing and, thus, likely to reduce the risk of their addictiveness. This procedure may also be applicable to assessing changes in acute nicotine reinforcement due to different product formulations, novel drugs, or other manipulations, perhaps helping inform development of new interventions for cessation or harm reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Perkins
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Joshua L Karelitz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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28
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Caliri AW, Tommasi S, Besaratinia A. Relationships among smoking, oxidative stress, inflammation, macromolecular damage, and cancer. MUTATION RESEARCH. REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2021; 787:108365. [PMID: 34083039 PMCID: PMC8287787 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2021.108365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Smoking is a major risk factor for a variety of diseases, including cancer and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Tobacco smoke contains a mixture of chemicals, including a host of reactive oxygen- and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), among others, that can damage cellular and sub-cellular targets, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. A growing body of evidence supports a key role for smoking-induced ROS and the resulting oxidative stress in inflammation and carcinogenesis. This comprehensive and up-to-date review covers four interrelated topics, including 'smoking', 'oxidative stress', 'inflammation', and 'cancer'. The review discusses each of the four topics, while exploring the intersections among the topics by highlighting the macromolecular damage attributable to ROS. Specifically, oxidative damage to macromolecular targets, such as lipid peroxidation, post-translational modification of proteins, and DNA adduction, as well as enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms, and the multi-faceted repair pathways of oxidized lesions are described. Also discussed are the biological consequences of oxidative damage to macromolecules if they evade the defense mechanisms and/or are not repaired properly or in time. Emphasis is placed on the genetic- and epigenetic alterations that may lead to transcriptional deregulation of functionally-important genes and disruption of regulatory elements. Smoking-associated oxidative stress also activates the inflammatory response pathway, which triggers a cascade of events of which ROS production is an initial yet indispensable step. The release of ROS at the site of damage and inflammation helps combat foreign pathogens and restores the injured tissue, while simultaneously increasing the burden of oxidative stress. This creates a vicious cycle in which smoking-related oxidative stress causes inflammation, which in turn, results in further generation of ROS, and potentially increased oxidative damage to macromolecular targets that may lead to cancer initiation and/or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Caliri
- Department of Preventive Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, M/C 9603, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Stella Tommasi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, M/C 9603, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Ahmad Besaratinia
- Department of Preventive Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, M/C 9603, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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29
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Rahimpoor R, Gohari-Ensaf F, Poorolajal J, Assari MJ. Impact of Filter on the Estimation of Quantitative Mixture Risk Caused by Some Chemical Constituents Generated from Popular Cigarette Brands in Iran. ADDICTION & HEALTH 2020; 12:175-185. [PMID: 33244394 PMCID: PMC7679489 DOI: 10.22122/ahj.v12i3.275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of filter on the eventual carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks caused by the main toxic constituents of popular cigarette brands in Iran. Methods At this laboratory study, the concentration of benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, and cadmium in the mainstream smoke of 11 popular cigarette brands in Iran, on the without and with-filter modes was determined based on an established method. The hazard quotient (HQ), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and mixture quantitative risk assessments (QRAs) were performed based on the QRA method recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Findings The mean of HQ due to benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, and cadmium in without-filter cigarette smoke was from 3.96 to 3505. The findings indicated that the HQs related to benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, and cadmium in cigarette smoke were decreased with filter by 48.3%, 25.3%, 37.6%, and 49.1%, respectively. The filter of cigarette decreased ILCR of benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, and cadmium in cigarette smoke by 53.02%, 25.31%, 37.70%, and 61.01%, respectively. The mixture of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic estimated risks due to inhalation of studied cigarettes smoke was very high and unacceptable. Conclusion The cigarette filter plays an essential role in reducing inhalation exposure to hazardous compounds in mainstream cigarette smoke; nevertheless, the average of overall mixture HQs and ILCRs estimated caused by studied compounds was higher than the acceptable value. It is recommended that future empirical studies investigate the impact of the type of fiber used in cigarette filter on reducing carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks caused by cigarette smoke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razzagh Rahimpoor
- Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Gohari-Ensaf
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Jalal Poorolajal
- Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Assari
- Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Pauwels CGGM, Hintzen KFH, Talhout R, Cremers HWJM, Pennings JLA, Smolinska A, Opperhuizen A, Van Schooten FJ, Boots AW. Smoking regular and low-nicotine cigarettes results in comparable levels of volatile organic compounds in blood and exhaled breath. J Breath Res 2020; 15:016010. [PMID: 33027777 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/abbf38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Smokers are exposed to more than 6000 (toxic) smoke components including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study VOCs levels in headspace of blood and exhaled breath, in the mainstream smoke of three types of cigarettes of one brand varying in declared tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) yields are investigated. The objective was to identify whether VOC levels correlate with TNCO yields of cigarettes smoked according to ISO 3308. Our data show that smoking regular and low-TNCO cigarettes result in comparable levels of VOCs in blood and exhaled breath. Hence, declared TNCO-yields as determined with the ISO 3308 machine smoking protocol are irrelevant for predicting VOC exposure upon human smoking. Venous blood and exhaled breath were sampled from 12 male volunteers directly before and 10 min after smoking cigarettes on 3 d (day 1 Marlboro Red (regular), day 2 Marlboro Prime (highly ventilated, low-TNCO), day 3 Marlboro Prime with blocked filter ventilation (taped)). Upon smoking, the levels of toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, o-xylene, and 2,5-dimethylfuran in both headspace of venous blood and exhaled breath increase within the same range for all three cigarette types smoked. However, no strong correlation was found between VOC levels in exhaled breath and VOC levels in headspace of blood because of variations between the individual smoking volunteers. More research is required in order to use exhaled breath sampling as a non-invasive quantitative marker for volatile toxicants from cigarette smoke exposure of different brands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte G G M Pauwels
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kim F H Hintzen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Reinskje Talhout
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans W J M Cremers
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Agnieszka Smolinska
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Antoon Opperhuizen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Office of Risk Assessment and Research, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik J Van Schooten
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Agnes W Boots
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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31
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Wakefield MA, Dunstone K, Brennan E, Vittiglia A, Scollo M, Durkin SJ, Hoek J, Thrasher J, Hatsukami D, Benowitz N, Samet JM. Australian smokers’ experiences and perceptions of recessed and firm filter cigarettes. Tob Control 2020; 30:660-667. [DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BackgroundWhile cigarette filter modifications have long been used to increase product appeal and assuage health concerns, tighter marketing restrictions, including plain packaging, have further spurred the growth of filter variants. We explored and assessed experiences and perceptions of smokers who had tried and/or currently use recessed filter cigarettes (RFCs) and firm filter cigarettes (FFCs).MethodIn November 2018, we undertook eight exploratory focus groups of Australian adult factory-made cigarette smokers (total n=56). In July 2019, we surveyed 999 smokers aged 18–69 years to quantify ever and current use of these products and associated beliefs and sensory experiences.ResultsFocus group and survey findings were consistent. Among 988 smokers who had at least tried factory-made cigarettes, 28.9% had tried FFCs and 11.1% currently smoked these, while 36.4% had tried RFCs and 7.5% currently smoked these. Smokers in both studies believed these filters may reduce harm and that FFCs increase appeal. In the survey, 58.9% of RFC triers agreed these hide the filter’s brown stain and 48.9% agreed that RFCs keep harmful substances away from the mouth. Similarly, 58.4% of FFC triers agreed these trap more harmful substances than standard filters. Relative to standard filter cigarettes, more smokers experienced FFCs and RFCs as feeling clean (p=0.03) and more current FFC users experienced these as feeling smooth (p=0.01).ConclusionRFCs and FFCs undermine plain packaging legislation, which aims to reduce appeal and minimise misperceptions about the relative harms of different tobacco products. Like other filter modifications, these filter variants should be disallowed.
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Paek HJ, Dewhirst T, Hove T. Can Removing Tar Information From Cigarette Packages Reduce Smokers' Misconceptions About Low-Tar Cigarettes? An Experiment From One of the World's Lowest Tar Yield Markets, South Korea. Nicotine Tob Res 2020; 22:990-996. [PMID: 30726984 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite regulations that forbid cigarette packages from displaying messages such as "mild," "low-tar," and "light," many smokers still have misperceptions about "light" or "low-tar" cigarettes. One reason may be that tar amount displays continue to be permitted. This study examines whether removing tar delivery information from packaging reduces consumer misperceptions about "low-tar" cigarettes. METHODS An online experiment was conducted in South Korea among 531 smokers who were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: with and without tar information on cigarette packages. Participants evaluated which type of cigarette was mildest, least harmful, easiest for nonsmokers to start smoking, and easiest for smokers to quit. RESULTS Ten out of 12 chi-square tests showed that people judged the lowest reported tar delivery cigarette to be the mildest (p < .01), least harmful (p < .05), easiest to start (p < .05), and easiest to quit (p < .05)-less so in the "no-tar" condition than the "tar" condition. A higher level of misbeliefs about supposed low-tar cigarettes were found in the "tar" condition compared to the "no-tar" condition for all three brands (t = 5.85, 4.07, 3.82, respectively, p < .001). Regression analyses showed that the "no-tar" condition negatively predicted the level of misbeliefs after controlling for demographic and smoking-related variables (B [SE] = -.72 (.12), -.50 (.12), -.48 (.13), respectively, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Banning reported tar deliveries from cigarette packages is likely to reduce smokers' misconceptions about "low-tar" cigarettes. When reported tar deliveries are absent, smokers have inconsistent judgments about differently packaged cigarettes. IMPLICATIONS When cigarette packages depict lower reported tar number deliveries, participants erroneously perceive them to be less harmful than packages displaying higher tar numbers. These misperceptions of harm may prompt smokers who might otherwise attempt to quit smoking to instead consume cigarettes with lower tar deliveries due to the mistaken belief that they will reduce their risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Jin Paek
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Hanyang University, Ansan, South Korea
| | - Timothy Dewhirst
- Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thomas Hove
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Hanyang University, Ansan, South Korea
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Carroll DM, Stepanov I, O'Connor R, Luo X, Cummings KM, Rees VW, Bickel WK, Berman ML, Ashley DL, Bansal-Travers M, Shields PG, Hatsukami DK. Impact of Cigarette Filter Ventilation on U.S. Smokers' Perceptions and Biomarkers of Exposure and Potential Harm. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 30:38-44. [PMID: 33093163 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-0852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relationships between cigarette filter ventilation levels, biomarkers of exposure (BOE) and potential harm (BOPH), and harm perceptions were examined. METHODS Filter ventilation levels in cigarette brands were merged with Wave 1 (2013-2014) Population Assessment of Tobacco Use and Health study. Data were restricted to smokers who reported a usual brand and not regular users of other tobacco products. BOEs included nicotine, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. BOPHs measured inflammation and oxidative stress. Perceived harm was assessed as self-reported risk of one's usual brand compared with other brands. RESULTS Filter ventilation ranged from 0.2% to 61.1% (n = 1,503). Adjusted relationships between filter ventilation and BOE or BOPH were nonsignificant except for VOC N-acetyl-S-(phenyl)-L-cysteine (PHMA) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). In pairwise comparisons, PHMA was higher in quartile (Q) 4 (4.23 vs. 3.36 pmol/mg; P = 0.0103) and Q3 (4.48 vs. 3.36 pmol/mg; P = 0.0038) versus Q1 of filter ventilation and hsCRP comparisons were nonsignificant. Adjusted odds of perceiving one's own brand as less harmful was 26.87 (95% confidence interval: 4.31-167.66), 12.55 (3.01-52.32), and 19.18 (3.87-95.02) times higher in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 of filter ventilation compared with Q1 (P = 0.0037). CONCLUSIONS Filter ventilation was not associated with BOE or BOPH, yet smokers of higher ventilated cigarettes perceived their brand as less harmful than other brands compared with smokers of lower ventilated cigarettes. IMPACT Research to understand the impact of this misperception is needed, and remedial strategies, potentially including a ban on filter ventilation, are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana M Carroll
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | - Irina Stepanov
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Richard O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Xianghua Luo
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - K Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Vaughan W Rees
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Warren K Bickel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute of Virginia Tech, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Micah L Berman
- College of Public Health and Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - David L Ashley
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Maansi Bansal-Travers
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Peter G Shields
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University and James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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van der Eijk Y, Tan GPP. Tobacco industry targeting of health-conscious youth with 'lighter' cigarettes: the case of Singapore. Tob Control 2020; 30:e20-e26. [PMID: 33067408 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite Singapore's strict tobacco control policies, smoking rates have not decreased since 2004. We examined the primary targets, motivations and strategies behind targeted marketing activities in Singapore from the tobacco industry's perspective to understand how tobacco companies continue to target people in their marketing. METHODS Snowball search in the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library for documents covering the industry's targeted marketing activities in Singapore. Information from the documents was subsequently triangulated with market data obtained from the Euromonitor Passport database, analysed for trends by tar segment and data from cigarette packs purchased from Singapore retailers, analysed in terms of product positioning. RESULTS In the 1970s and 1980s, as young people in Singapore became more health-conscious, tobacco companies positioned 'light' cigarettes for growth in the 1990s. Many of these 'lights' contained similar tar and nicotine levels as regular brands; they were only light in their branding. In the 1990's, 'lights' became more popular in Singapore and this demand was largely youth driven. Into the 2010s, while the low tar (<6 mg) segment comprised only a small portion of Singapore's cigarette market, most cigarette variants were marketed as 'lighter' or as having harm reductive benefits to appeal to more health-conscious people. CONCLUSIONS The differentiation of 'lighter' cigarettes remains an important marketing tool for tobacco companies amidst Singapore's strict regulations. Legislation to remove all remaining avenues for tobacco companies to make harm reduction claims on their products, explicit or implicit, coupled with improving health literacy and exposing industry deception, could help to further bring down smoking prevalence in Singapore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette van der Eijk
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Grace Ping Ping Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Noreen F, Sajjad A, Mahmood K, Anwar M, Zahra M, Waseem A. Human Biomonitoring of Trace Elements in Scalp Hair from Healthy Population of Pakistan. Biol Trace Elem Res 2020; 196:37-46. [PMID: 31654255 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-019-01906-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The present study deals with the assessment of essential trace and toxic elements in biological samples (scalp hair) of healthy smoker and non-smoker residents of Lahore (the second most populous city), Pakistan. Human biomonitoring of various trace elements like zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) was evaluated in human hair samples of smokers and non-smokers (males and females) as per IFCC criteria. For the purpose of comparison, scalp hair samples of age- and sex-equivalent healthy persons were also analyzed. The results of this study show that the concentrations (P95 values) of As (0.17, 0.81, and 0.91 μg/g), Cd (2.80, 3.81, and 3.16 μg/g), Cr (4.1, 4.2, and 5.3 μg/g), Cu (20.0, 21.0, and 21.9 μg/g), Ni (3.9, 4.6, and 4.3 μg/g), Pb (4.0, 4.8, and 5.0 μg/g), and Fe (49.0, 49.0, and 59.3 μg/g) were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of smokers than in referents, for various age groups (16-32 years, 33-50 years, and 51-62 years), respectively. The concentrations of Zn (165, 163, and 173 μg/g various age groups, respectively) in similar age group were found lower in the scalp hair samples of smokers than referents. Exposure of high toxic metal level through smoking and deficiency of Zn could be synergistic with the risk factors associated with the use of tobacco. Correlation studies for the elements in cigarette with the elements in scalp hair of male smokers show a highly positive correlation between Cr-Cd, Cr-Ni, Cu-Fe, and Ni-Zn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fouzia Noreen
- PCSIR Labs Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Ashif Sajjad
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Mahmood
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Anwar
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Manzar Zahra
- Department of Chemistry, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Amir Waseem
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Poorolajal J, Assari MJ, Mohammadi Y, Gohari-Ensaf F. Impact of cigarettes’ filter length and diameter on cigarette smoke emissions. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Caruso RV, Fix BV, Ingabire MJ, Bansal-Travers M, Rees VW, Cummings KM, Shields PG, Hatsukami DK, O'Connor RJ. Smokers Awareness and Risk Perceptions of Filter Ventilation. TOB REGUL SCI 2020; 6:213-223. [PMID: 38957357 PMCID: PMC11218909 DOI: 10.18001/trs.6.3.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The addition of tiny rows of holes in the tipping paper (filter ventilation) of cigarettes allows air to mix with the smoke, which can change risk perceptions. In this study, we examine smokers' knowledge and beliefs about filter ventilation. Methods Web-based panel surveys conducted in 2016 and 2017 of current adult cigarette smokers (N = 2355) provided data on awareness and understanding of filter vents in their cigarettes, whether they believed blocking the holes would change the taste of their cigarettes, and their perceptions about their future risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer. The most commonly used cigarette brands reported by participants also were characterized on the presence and level of ventilation holes. Results Approximately 40% of participants (mostly younger and male) reported awareness of the filter ventilation in their cigarettes. Only 30% of the participants were both aware of and understood the function of filter ventilation; they also were significantly more likely to worry about developing lung cancer. Conclusion Although misleading descriptors associated with filter ventilation are prohibited, most smokers still smoked cigarettes with filter vents, and many are unaware and misunderstand the potential risks of filter ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian V Fix
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
| | | | | | - Vaughan W Rees
- Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - K Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Peter G Shields
- James Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Cancer Prevention, Department of Psychiatry and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Richard J O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
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Abstract
Objectives Characterize physical design features of cigarette brands sold in the US according to the delivery method of menthol that may affect sensory perception among users. Methods Twelve cigarette brands, mentholated and non-mentholated, were purchased for analyses of the physical design characteristics, quantification of nicotine and menthol, and identification of flavor additives. Results Physical design characteristics did not differ significantly between the various cigarette brands. However, significant differences were seen in levels of menthol. Menthol levels were greatest in products that had dual delivery methods of menthol (6.7mg/cigarette; SE=0.27) followed by products mentholated in a filter capsule only (5.7mg/cigarette; SE=0.25), and those mentholated in the tobacco only (3.8mg/cigarette; SE=0.12); products that were not mentholated had the least (0.38mg/cigarette; SE=0.31). Finally, flavor additives with a mint flavor profile other than menthol were identified, such as pulegone and limonene, and differed between cigarette brands, which are likely contributing to the menthol flavor experience associated with use of these products. Conclusions The regulation of menthol delivery method, flavorings added to the capsule, and/or menthol concentration may be beneficial for the public health as these factors are likely creating unique sensory experiences.
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Smith TT, Koopmeiners JS, White CM, Denlinger-Apte RL, Pacek LR, De Jesús VR, Wang L, Watson C, Blount BC, Hatsukami DK, Benowitz NL, Donny EC, Carpenter MJ. The Impact of Exclusive Use of Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes on Compensatory Smoking: An Inpatient Crossover Clinical Trial. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 29:880-886. [PMID: 32102910 PMCID: PMC7125007 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-19-0963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The FDA is considering a mandated reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes. Clinical trials have been limited by non-study cigarette use (noncompliance), which could mask compensation. The goal of this study was to assess whether compensation occurs when smokers provided with very low nicotine cigarettes cannot access normal nicotine cigarettes. METHODS In a within-subjects, crossover design, current smokers (n = 16) were confined to a hotel for two 4-night hotel stays during which they were only able to access the research cigarettes provided. The hotel stays offered normal nicotine cigarettes or very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes, in an unblinded design, available for "purchase" via a study bank. RESULTS In the context of complete compliance with the study cigarettes (n = 16), there was not a significant increase during the VLNC condition for cigarettes smoked per day, expired carbon monoxide, or N-acetyl-S-(cyanoethyl)-l-cysteine (cyanoethyl-MA, metabolite of acrylonitrile). There was a significant nicotine × time interaction on urine N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-l-cysteine (hydroxypropyl-MA, metabolite of acrolein), driven by an increase in the VLNC condition during the first 24 hours. By the end of the VLNC condition, there was no evidence of compensation across any measure of smoking or smoke exposure. CONCLUSIONS Among current smokers who exclusively used VLNC cigarettes for 4 days, there was no significant compensatory smoking behavior. IMPACT These data, combined with the larger body of work, suggest that a mandated reduction in nicotine content is unlikely to result in an increase in smoking behavior to obtain more nicotine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy T Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
| | - Joseph S Koopmeiners
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Cassidy M White
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Rachel L Denlinger-Apte
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Lauren R Pacek
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Víctor R De Jesús
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lanqing Wang
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Clifford Watson
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Benjamin C Blount
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Neal L Benowitz
- Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Eric C Donny
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Matthew J Carpenter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Shoaib M, Perkins KA. Preclinical and clinical research on the discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine. Neuropharmacology 2020; 170:108063. [PMID: 32220607 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Across species, nicotine can produce robust discriminative stimulus (DS) effects, as with other drugs of abuse, a feature that has been harnessed to advance our understanding on the neuropharmacological mechanisms of nicotine's actions. With the crucial role played by nicotine in supporting tobacco dependence, nicotine DS effects have presented an ideal platform to develop novel generation of smoking cessation compounds. Findings from preclinical strands of research have invigorated the field of human discrimination research to objectively assess nicotine's interoceptive stimulus effects. As such, translation studies provide proof of concept for nicotine DS research as a method to assess the subjective effects of nicotine per se, separate from non-nicotine stimuli involved in smoking. Recent clinical studies with low doses have demonstrated that perceiving nicotine's DS effects is necessary, yet not sufficient, for that dose to be reinforcing. These measures have been instrumental in developing novel strategies with regards to establishing threshold doses of nicotine contained in tobacco products, to then determine subthreshold doses that cannot be discriminated and, therefore, fail to maintain reinforcement. Findings from preclinical and clinical nicotine DS research could substantially inform public health policies aimed at regulating nicotine content of consumer products so that they minimize risks of dependency. This article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Shoaib
- Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Kenneth A Perkins
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Smith TT, Koopmeiners JS, Hatsukami DK, Tessier KM, Benowitz NL, Murphy SE, Strasser AA, Tidey JW, Blount BC, Valentin L, Bravo Cardenas R, Watson C, Pirkle JL, Donny EC. Mouth-Level Nicotine Intake Estimates from Discarded Filter Butts to Examine Compensatory Smoking in Low Nicotine Cigarettes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 29:643-649. [PMID: 32102909 PMCID: PMC7100998 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-19-0905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A mandated reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes could reduce smoking rate and prevalence. However, one concern is that smokers may compensate by increasing the intensity with which they smoke each cigarette to obtain more nicotine. This study assessed whether smokers engage in compensatory smoking by estimating the mouth-level nicotine intake of low nicotine cigarettes smoked during a clinical trial. METHODS Smokers were randomly assigned to receive cigarettes with one of five nicotine contents for 6 weeks. An additional group received a cigarette with the lowest nicotine content, but an increased tar yield. The obtained mouth-level nicotine intake from discarded cigarette butts for a subset of participants (51-70/group) was estimated using solanesol as described previously. A compensation index was calculated for each group to estimate the proportion of nicotine per cigarette recovered through changes in smoking intensity. RESULTS There was no significant increase in smoking intensity for any of the reduced nicotine cigarettes as measured by the compensation index (an estimated 0.4% of the nicotine lost was recovered in the lowest nicotine group; 95% confidence interval, -0.1 to 1.2). There was a significant decrease in smoking intensity for very low nicotine content cigarettes with increased tar yield. CONCLUSIONS Reductions in nicotine content did not result in compensatory changes in how intensively participants smoked research cigarettes. IMPACT Combined with data from clinical trials showing a reduction in cigarettes smoked per day, these data suggest that a reduction in nicotine content is unlikely to result in increased smoke exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy T Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
| | - Joseph S Koopmeiners
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Department of Psychiatry and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Katelyn M Tessier
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Neal L Benowitz
- Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sharon E Murphy
- Department of Biochemistry Molecular Biology and BioPhysics and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Andrew A Strasser
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, and Abraham Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jennifer W Tidey
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Benjamin C Blount
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Liza Valentin
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Roberto Bravo Cardenas
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Clifford Watson
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - James L Pirkle
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Eric C Donny
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Ribisl KM, Hatsukami DK, Huang J, Williams RS, Donny EC. Strategies to Reduce Illicit Trade of Regular Nicotine Tobacco Products After Introduction of a Low-Nicotine Tobacco Product Standard. Am J Public Health 2020; 109:1007-1014. [PMID: 31166743 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2019.305067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The US Food and Drug Administration is considering mandating a substantial reduction in the nicotine level of cigarettes and possibly other combusted tobacco products to render them minimially addictive. This would likely result in several public health benefits, including increased cessation, decreased progression to dependence, and reduced consumption of combusted tobacco products. However, findings from clinical trials of reduced-nicotine cigarettes suggest that many smokers consuming low nicotine-content cigarettes sought out regular nicotine-content cigarettes, even when they were asked to only smoke free low-nicotine cigarettes. If this policy were implemented without ensuring that cessation treatments and appealing alternative products (e.g., e-cigarettes) were readily available, some consumers would be likely to seek banned regular nicotine-content combusted tobacco products from illicit sources: retail, online, and individuals. Left unchecked, this illicit market could undermine the public health benefits of the policy. We describe supply and demand factors in an illicit market. Informed by the literature on controlling Internet tobacco sales and reducing illicit trade in low-cost cigarettes when there are price differentials, we recommend tracking and tracing products and greater surveillance and enforcement efforts to minimize illicit trade in normal nicotine products under a low-nicotine tobacco product standard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt M Ribisl
- Kurt M. Ribisl is with the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dorothy K. Hatsukami is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Jidong Huang is with the School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Rebecca S. Williams is with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Eric C. Donny is with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Dorothy K Hatsukami
- Kurt M. Ribisl is with the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dorothy K. Hatsukami is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Jidong Huang is with the School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Rebecca S. Williams is with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Eric C. Donny is with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Jidong Huang
- Kurt M. Ribisl is with the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dorothy K. Hatsukami is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Jidong Huang is with the School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Rebecca S. Williams is with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Eric C. Donny is with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Rebecca S Williams
- Kurt M. Ribisl is with the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dorothy K. Hatsukami is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Jidong Huang is with the School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Rebecca S. Williams is with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Eric C. Donny is with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Eric C Donny
- Kurt M. Ribisl is with the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dorothy K. Hatsukami is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Jidong Huang is with the School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Rebecca S. Williams is with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Eric C. Donny is with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
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Perkins KA. Research on Behavioral Discrimination of Nicotine May Inform FDA Policy on Setting a Maximum Nicotine Content in Cigarettes. Nicotine Tob Res 2019; 21:S5-S12. [PMID: 31867642 PMCID: PMC6939773 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntz136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Food and Drug Administration may set a maximum nicotine content in cigarettes to minimize smoking's addictiveness. Our recent research may indirectly support setting levels applicable to the population of dependent smokers below 1 mg/g (mg nicotine/g of tobacco filler). METHODS Using a within-subjects design in laboratory-based studies totaling 61 nontreatment seeking adult dependent smokers, Spectrum research cigarettes with nicotine contents ranging from 1.3 to 17 mg/g (just one per session) were compared with the lowest content available, 0.4 mg/g. Identified for each participant was the smallest difference in nicotine content, or "threshold," between cigarettes that still supported behavioral discrimination (ie, ability to objectively distinguish their difference). The next lower nicotine content cigarette, not discriminated (by definition), was labeled their "subthreshold." Subjective perceptions and choice behavior were also assessed. RESULTS Thresholds varied widely among all 61 smokers but, importantly, fewer than 7% of smokers could discriminate the two lowest, 1.3 versus 0.4 mg/g nicotine, meaning more than 90% could not do so. Moreover, we found a consistent association between their nicotine discrimination threshold and their subjective perceptions and subsequent reinforcement behavior later in the session. Specifically, a participant's discrimination threshold cigarette was also more highly rated and preferred (ie, self-administered), whereas their subthreshold cigarette was rated similarly to the 0.4 mg/g and not preferred. CONCLUSIONS Cigarette nicotine content below the threshold for perceiving nicotine's effects (ie, its discriminability) in nearly all smokers from a no nicotine comparison is likely below 1.0 mg/g, or less than or equal to 10% of that in typical commercial cigarettes. IMPLICATIONS Cigarettes with nicotine contents able to be discriminated (threshold) are also reinforcing, and those unable to be discriminated are not reinforcing, as anticipated. Yet, research explicitly comparing cigarettes with contents below 1.0 mg/g versus no nicotine (ie, a "placebo") is needed with larger samples. Results may confirm what nicotine content lower than 1.0 mg/g is below the threshold for discrimination (and self-administration) in the vast majority (>95%) of adult dependent smokers as well as teens beginning to smoke. Identifying that content would strongly support the Food and Drug Administration policy to establish a maximum nicotine content in cigarettes that will not maintain dependence.
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Tucker MR, Laugesen M, Grace RC. Estimating Demand and Cross-Price Elasticity for Very Low Nicotine Content (VLNC) Cigarettes Using a Simulated Demand Task. Nicotine Tob Res 2019; 20:843-850. [PMID: 28340034 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntx051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Very Low Nicotine Content (VLNC) cigarettes might be useful as part of a tobacco control strategy, but relatively little is known about their acceptability as substitutes for regular cigarettes. We compared subjective effects and demand for regular cigarettes and VLNC cigarettes, and estimated cross-price elasticity for VLNC cigarettes, using simulated demand tasks. Method Forty New Zealand smokers sampled a VLNC cigarette and completed Cigarette Purchase Tasks to indicate their demand for regular cigarettes and VLNC cigarettes at a range of prices, and a cross-price task indicating how many regular cigarettes and VLNC cigarettes they would purchase at 0.5x, 1x, and 2x the current market price for regular cigarettes, assuming the price of VLNC cigarettes remained constant. They also rated the subjective effects of the VLNC cigarette and their usual-brand regular cigarettes. Results Cross-price elasticity for VLNC cigarettes was estimated as 0.32 and was significantly positive, indicating that VLNC cigarettes are partially substitutable for regular cigarettes. VLNC cigarettes were rated as less satisfying and psychologically rewarding than regular cigarettes, but this was unrelated to demand or substitutability. Conclusion VLNC cigarettes are potentially substitutable for regular cigarettes. Their availability may reduce tobacco consumption, nicotine intake and addiction; making it easier for smokers to quit. Implications VLNC cigarettes share the behavioral and sensory components of smoking while delivering negligible levels of nicotine. Although smokers rated VLNCs as less satisfying than regular cigarettes, smokers said they would increase their consumption of VLNCs as the price of regular cigarettes increased, if VLNCs were available at a lower price. This suggests that VLNCs are partially substitutable for regular cigarettes. VLNCs can be part of an effective tobacco control strategy, by reducing nicotine dependence and improving health and financial outcomes for smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R Tucker
- University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Murray Laugesen
- University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Health New Zealand Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Randolph C Grace
- University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Christchurch, New Zealand
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45
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Epperson AE, Henriksen L, Prochaska JJ. Natural American Spirit Brand Marketing Casts Health Halo Around Smoking. Am J Public Health 2019; 107:668-670. [PMID: 28398789 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2017.303719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Epperson
- Anna E. Epperson, Lisa Henriksen, and Judith J. Prochaska are with the Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Lisa Henriksen
- Anna E. Epperson, Lisa Henriksen, and Judith J. Prochaska are with the Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Judith J Prochaska
- Anna E. Epperson, Lisa Henriksen, and Judith J. Prochaska are with the Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
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Breland A, Balster RL, Cobb C, Fagan P, Foulds J, Koch JR, Lipato T, Saliba N, Shihadeh A, Sun S, Eissenberg T. Answering questions about electronic cigarettes using a multidisciplinary model. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 74:368-379. [PMID: 30945898 DOI: 10.1037/amp0000426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) are a relatively new class of tobacco products and a subject of much debate for scientists and policymakers worldwide. Objective data that address the ECIG risk-benefit ratio for individual and public health are needed, and addressing this need requires a multidisciplinary approach that spans several areas of psychology as well as chemistry, toxicant inhalation, and physiology. This multidisciplinary approach would benefit from methods that are reliable, valid, and swift. For this reason, we formed a multidisciplinary team to develop methods that could answer questions about ECIGs and other potential modified risk tobacco products. Our team includes scientists with expertise in psychology (clinical, community, and experimental) and other disciplines, including aerosol research, analytical chemistry, biostatistics, engineering, internal medicine, and public health. The psychologists on our team keep other members focused on factors that influence individual behavior, and other team members keep the psychologists aware of other issues, such as product design. Critically, all team members are willing to extend their interests beyond the boundaries of their discipline to collaborate effectively with the shared goal of producing the rigorous science needed to inform empirically based tobacco policy. In addition, our trainees gain valuable knowledge from these collaborations and learn that other disciplines are accessible, exciting, and can enhance their own research. Multidisciplinary work presents challenges: learning other scientists' languages and staying focused on our core mission. Overall, our multidisciplinary team has led to several major findings that inform the scientific, regulatory, and public health communities about ECIGs and their effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shumei Sun
- Center for the Study of Tobacco Products
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Smith TT, Hatsukami DK, Benowitz NL, Colby SM, McClernon FJ, Strasser AA, Tidey JW, White CM, Donny EC. Whether to push or pull? Nicotine reduction and non-combusted alternatives - Two strategies for reducing smoking and improving public health. Prev Med 2018; 117:8-14. [PMID: 29604326 PMCID: PMC6163095 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Combustible cigarettes remain the most harmful and addictive tobacco product, and reducing the prevalence of smoking continues to be a critical public health goal. While nicotine is the constituent primarily responsible for addiction to cigarettes, most of the harm associated with smoking comes from byproducts of tobacco combustion. Recently, two different approaches for reducing the harms of smoking have emerged, both of which focus on breaking the link between the addiction to nicotine and the harms caused by smoking. First, the addictive potential of cigarettes could be minimized by requiring a large reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes. Evidence for a nicotine reduction policy thus far shows that the use of very low nicotine content cigarettes results in a reduction in the number of cigarettes people smoke per day and a reduction in cigarette dependence. Second, emerging alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS) like electronic cigarettes may provide sufficient nicotine to act as substitutes for cigarettes while delivering much lower levels of toxicants. Evidence suggests that the emergence of ANDS has increased the percentage of smokers who are able to quit. The present paper will briefly review the evidence for each of these approaches, and consider what contemporary reinforcement and addiction theories can tell us about their likely success. We argue that the most effective endgame approach is one that pursues both nicotine reduction and alternative nicotine delivery systems as complementary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy T Smith
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, United States.
| | | | - Neal L Benowitz
- Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, United States
| | - Suzanne M Colby
- Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, Brown University, United States
| | - F Joseph McClernon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, United States
| | - Andrew A Strasser
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, United States
| | - Jennifer W Tidey
- Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, Brown University, United States
| | - Cassidy M White
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Eric C Donny
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, United States
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48
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Pipe AL, Reid RD. Smoking Cessation and Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Priority! Can J Cardiol 2018; 34:S247-S251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2018.07.416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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King B, Ndoen E, Borland R. Smokers' risk perceptions and misperceptions of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapies. Drug Alcohol Rev 2018; 37:810-817. [PMID: 29920819 DOI: 10.1111/dar.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS To identify the range and coherence of smokers and recent ex-smokers' general beliefs about the harms associated with smoking and the implications of these beliefs for their assessments of the relative harms and addictiveness of various nicotine containing products. DESIGN AND METHODS The study consisted of 18 single participant interviews with current smokers or vapers (13 M, 5 F) and three focus groups (15 M, 14 F) with current smokers/vapers and recent quitters. Both individual interviews and focus groups included semi-structured discussions of how nicotine and cigarette smoke cause disease and addiction, and a structured task involving rating the relative harmfulness and addictiveness of 17 nicotine products against a reference, popular, cigarette. RESULTS Most participants were able to give adequate accounts of what makes cigarette smoking harmful and addictive but this general knowledge was not consistently applied to making harmfulness and addictiveness judgements about specific products. Many participants applied simple affect-based heuristics to harmfulness and addictiveness judgments, even when they had apparently demonstrated more sophisticated knowledge earlier. Most used binary safe/dangerous thinking, with addictiveness and harmfulness strongly linked and a decoupling of satisfaction and addictiveness. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Many smokers appear to have reasonable general knowledge of the risks of smoking but cannot reliably apply this knowledge to practical risk judgements. We need to rethink how we communicate with the public about the risks of smoking, and using other nicotine products, in ways that allow them to make more informed decisions about their smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill King
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Enjelita Ndoen
- School of Public Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Faculty of Public Health, University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Indonesia
| | - Ron Borland
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
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Pauwels CG, Klerx WN, Pennings JL, Boots AW, van Schooten FJ, Opperhuizen A, Talhout R. Cigarette Filter Ventilation and Smoking Protocol Influence Aldehyde Smoke Yields. Chem Res Toxicol 2018; 31:462-471. [PMID: 29727173 PMCID: PMC6008735 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.7b00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The WHO study group on tobacco product regulation (TobReg) advised regulating and lowering toxicant levels in cigarette smoke. Aldehydes are one of the chemical classes on the TobReg smoke toxicants priority list. To provide insight in factors determining aldehyde yields, the levels of 12 aldehydes in mainstream cigarette smoke of 11 Dutch brands were quantified. Variations in smoking behavior and cigarette design affecting human exposure to aldehydes were studied by using four different machine testing protocols. Machine smoking was based on the International Standardization Organization (ISO) and Health Canada Intense (HCI) regime, both with and without taping the filter vents. The 11 cigarette brands differed in (i) design and blend characteristics; (ii) tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide (TNCO) levels; (iii) popularity; and (iv) manufacturer. Cigarette smoke was trapped on a Cambridge filter pad and carboxen cartridge. After being dissolved in methanol/CS2 and derivatization with DNPH, the aldehyde yields were determined using HPLC-DAD. Using an intense smoking regime (increased puff volume, shorter puff interval) significantly increased aldehyde yields, following the pattern: ISO < ISO-taped < HCI-untaped < HCI. For all of the regimes, acetaldehyde and acrolein yields were strongly correlated ( r = 0.804). The difference in TNCO and aldehyde levels between regular and highly ventilated low-TNCO cigarettes (as measured using ISO) diminished when smoking intensely; this effect is stronger when combined with taping filter vents. The highly ventilated low-TNCO brands showed six times more aldehyde production per mg nicotine for the intense smoking regimes. In conclusion, acetaldehyde and acrolein can be used as representatives for the class of volatile aldehydes for the different brands and smoking regimes. The aldehyde-to-nicotine ratio increased when highly ventilated cigarettes were smoked intensely, similar to real smokers. Thus, a smoker of highly ventilated low-TNCO cigarettes has an increased potential for higher aldehyde exposures compared to a smoker of regular cigarettes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte G.G.M. Pauwels
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational
Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Health Protection, National Institute
for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Walther N.M. Klerx
- Centre
for Health Protection, National Institute
for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen L.A. Pennings
- Centre
for Health Protection, National Institute
for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Agnes W. Boots
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational
Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik J. van Schooten
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational
Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Antoon Opperhuizen
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational
Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Office
of Risk Assessment and Research, Netherlands
Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), P.O. Box 8433, 3503 RK Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Reinskje Talhout
- Centre
for Health Protection, National Institute
for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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