AHF NCI Collection
ON the Selective Reduction of Tobacco Specific N-Nitrosamines in Cigarette Smoke Confidential Concluding Report 811115
Abstract
Author:Adams, J.D. Hoffman, D.
Report which identifies research study conducted to: 1. Develop a rapid, reproducible analysis for TSNA in tobacco products. 2. To determine the transfer rate of NNK. 3. To quantitate TSNA in the mainstream smoke of experimental cigarettes and explore the possibility of a selective reduction of TSNA in MS by selective filtration.
Fields
- Type
- Bibliography
- Chart/Graph
- Photograph
- Scrt, Scientific Report
- Keyword
- mainstream smoke
- NAB
- NAT
- nitrosamines
- NNK
- NNN
- reduction
- TSNA
- Location
- cd 4
- Team
- nitrosamines
- Author
- Adams, J.D.
- Hoffman, D.
- Named Person
- Owens
Document Images
4r--

a
CONFIDENTIAL
CONCLUDING REPORT
November 15, 1981
ON THE SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF TOBACCO-SPECIFIC N-NITROSAMINES
IN CIGARETTE SMOKE
Dietrich Hoffmann
John D . Ad'ams
Naylor Dana Institute for Disease Prevention
American Health Foundation
Valhalla, New York, 10595

ON THE SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF TOBACCO-SPECIFIC N-NITROSAMINES
IN CIGARETTE SMOKE
PURPOSE OF STUDY Page 1
1. GC-TEA METHOD FOR TSNA " 2
2. TRANSFER OF NNK " 7'
3. ON THE REDUCTION OF TSNA " 9
SIIMMARY " 19.
Addendum 1
Progress Report 11-15-198'1
Addendum 2
1981 TCRC-Paper: Formation of NNK During Smokin g.
~
C

PURPOSE OF STUDY
Four tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA) have been
identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke. These are N'-nitroso-
nornicotime (NNN), 4-(m:ethylnitrosamino)-1-(3'-pyridyl)-1-buta-
none (NNK), N'-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and N'-nitrosoa.nabasine
(NAB).
NNN
NNK
NAT
I
NO
N
NAB
ppm in
tobacco 0.2-45 0.1 -35 0.6 -13 0.0-0.01
µg/cig. 0.2- 3.7 0.12- 0.44. 0.15- 4.6 0.0-0.15
These TSNA are formed during tobacco processing and smok-
ing. They represent an important group of biologically active
constituents of tobacco and its smoke.
The aims of this study were:
1. To develop a rapid, reproducible analysis for TSNA in to-
bacco products.
2. To determine the transfer rate of NNK - the biologically
1

most active TSNA - from tobacco into cigarette mainstream
smoke and
3. to quantitate TSNA in the mainstream smoke (MS) of experi-
mental cigarettes and explore the possibility of a
select-
ive red'uction of TSNA in MS by selective filtration.
A progress report on this study was sent on April 6, 1981
(Addendum 1).
1. GC-TEA Method For Tobacco-Specific N-Nitrozamines
A few years ago, we developed an analytical technique for
the quantitative determInation of tobacco-specific N-nitros-
amines (TSNA; 1) which yielded reproducible data, excluded
artifactual TSNA formation and was highly sensitive (250
pg/compound). However, this method required improvements in
efficiency in terms of time as well as in separating the Z-iso
mer of NNK from NNN. Such improvements were the aim of this
study.
E%PERIMENTAL
-0'
~
G
Essential changes which led to a rapid, accurate and re- ~
producible method were as follows: The pyrolysis furnace of ~
the TEA was mounted at the column exit of a GC-unit (Figures 1C1
and 2). This direct connection of the GC-column and pyrolysis M
2

tube prevents [hermal degradation. A 3.3 x 2 mm (i.d'.) glass
column was treated with a solution of dimethylchlorosilane in
toluene. Subsequently, it was packed with 10% UCW-982 on Gas-
Chrom Q 980/100 mesh) and was conditioned at 290°C for 3'0 mim.
For the isothermic separation, the column was operated at 19-0°C
(while the temperature of the TEA pyrolysis unit was 45-0:°C).
Umder these conditons the retention times were: N"-nitroso-
noxnicotin~e (NNN), 10 minutes; N'-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), 12
minutes; N'-nitrosoana:basine (NAB), 13 minutes; and 4-miethyL-
nitrosamino)-1i-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), 18 minutes (Figure
3). The detection limit for an individual TSNA with this
method is about 1100 pg per injection. The precision of the
analysis for NNN in tobacco and in smoke was ± 8%.
REFERENCE$
1. Hoffmann, D., Adams, J'.D., Brunnemann, K.D., and Hecht,
S.S. Assessment of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in
tobacco products. Cancer Res. 39: 2505-2509, 1979.
3

Figure 1. Direct Interface Modification of GC-TEA System.
4

c
Figure 2. Modification of the GC-TEA Interface.
A: Catalytic Pyrolyzer; B: Heated Interface;
C: 1/4" Graphite Ferrule; D: GC-Column.
5

GC - TEA TRACE OF
TSNA IN CIGARETTE SMOKE
NNN
i
NAT
U
NNK
p
\
0 5 10 15 20
M I NUTES

2. Transfer of NNK from Cigarette Tobacco Into Mainstream
Smoke.
In~ previous studies we have shown that about 11% of the
NNN which had been formed in cigarette tobacco during curing
and processing transfers unichanige& into the mainstream smoke.
Thlis occurs independent of influences of nitrate content of
thie tobacco or pH of the smoke.
Studies with 14'C-NNN have documented that 40-50% of the
NNN in mainstream smoke originate by transfer from the NNN in
tobacco and that the remainder is pyrosynthesize& from
and nornicotine during the process of smoking (1,2).
nicotinie
It was the task of this project to determine the transfer
rate of NNK into the smoke
since this compound has even greater
biological activity than NNN. For this stud~y, NNK-1-14C was
synthesized, starting with nicotinic acid [carboxyl-1'4C].
Cigarettes were "spike&" individually with NNK-1-14'C with thie
microsyringe metho&. Details of the method and analysis are
summarized in a paper presented at the 35th Tobacco Chemists'
Research Conference in Vinston Salem, N.C., 10-7 to 10-9, 1981,
(Addendum 2).
Table 1 summarizes our findings, showing that the transfer
rate of NNK can vary between 7-11% an& that the NNK of the
tobacco recovered in the MS canivary from 26 to 37%. `Spiking"
of cigarettes with nicotine-methyl-14'C in&icated that about
0.002-0.003% of the nicotine give rise to NNK during smoking.
7
