Tobacco Documents Online

This report from the Lorillard tobacco company discusses means of increasing "free" nicotine in tobacco. Nicotine in "free" form (as opposed to "bound" nicotine) is more readily absorbed by the smoker. The reason tobacco companies value free nicotine in tobacco is because it produces an "organoleptic effect" in the smoker. Dorland's Ilustrated Medical Dictionary (25th Edition) defines "organoleptic" as "making an impression on an organ of special sense." Many interpret this as the drug-effect of nicotine.

The document states that as tar levels decrease in cigarettes, so too does the amount of nicotine. Therefore, "the smoker desires more organoleptic effect than the low tar cigarette delivers." Lorillard wanted to enhance the organoleptic effect of nicotine by increasing the amount of free nicotine in smoke. They mention several ways of doing this, the most promising of which was treating tobacco with ammonia or ammonium ion. They determined this was inexpensive and safer than adding metal alkali.

Also of interest is the fact that they mention that treating tobacco with ammonia decreases its combustibility. This may be a reason why tobacco companies add chemicals to cigarette paper that keep cigarettes burning.

Reports on a scientific test done on yeast to explore the "cell death response to smoke." Notes that cell death "is not an important factor." Notes that cells go into respiratory arrest when exposed to cigarette smoke.

Tobacco smoke contains nitrosamines, which, according to this 1963 letter to Helmut Wakeham (vice president in charge of research at Philip Morris) are "the most potent carcinogens known." A report published prior to this time, in 1962, in the journal Toxicology and Microbiology (a copy of which was also found on the Philip Morris site) entitled "N-Nitroso Compounds and their Precursors in the Environment" states that humans get "life-style" exposure to nitrosamines from tobacco and tobacco smoke. A quote from that report says:

"The concentration of nitrosamines found in tobacco products represents the highest human exposure to N-nitroso compounds....To date, over 20 different preformed N-Nitroso compounds have been found in tobacco products..." (Philip Morris site, Bates No. 2060547756/7784, URL http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?if=avpidx&DOCID=2060547756/7784

Today's document is a letter from a researcher in Switzerland who attended a meeting to determine the "state of analytical methods to disprove [the presence of nitrosamines] in tobacco leaves and smoke." The scientist writes to Dr. Wakeham stating:

"I thought the importance of the [study on nitrosamines] is such that you might be interested in an immediate short notice of the highlights of the problem discussed...

Some 60 Nitrosamines -- as well as Dialkyl as more complex and assymetrical compounds -- have been tested. They are all carcinogenic and what is more organo-specific. According tot he compound used and according to the way of application (intravenous, oral, sucutaneous), cancer is produced in a given site such as lung, liver, bladder, oesphagus, stomac and also for the first time in history, in brain...The dosage needed to induce cancer in test animals is for most Nitrosamines exceedingly low. In some instances a unique application is sufficient....Hamsters on inhalation with tobacco smoke after 8 months show lung lesions (there is reasonable belief that in several more months lung carcinomas will be obtained). Under similar (not identical) conditions lung cancer have been obtained with Nitrosamines...As a whole one can say that the Nitrosamines are very potent carcinogens, potent mutagenes, that they have a very good dose-response relationship, an astonishing relation between structure and organotropic action, that their effect on the chemical structure of the attacked organism is better known that for most other carcinogens..."

This expansive, 295-page confidential report was prepared for the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company in 1976. Its purpose was to examine present and past trends and predict what would be likely to affect the future of the cigarette market through the year 1990. It is a vast, comprehensive report (and surprisingly prescient). Its market analyses predict future cigarette sales based on such measures as per capita income and educational levels, fertility rates, life expectancy, likelihood of regulatory legislation, changes in attitudes towards smoking and tobacco issues, world population growth, key trends like changing social values, and more.

The study predicted that social acceptability of smoking would decrease, and noted that even smokers "strongly favored restrictions" in where they could smoke.

"Thus the smoker will find himself increasingly restricted as his habit beceoms less socially acceptable. The study questioned both smokers and non-smokers and this favoring of restrictions was exhibited strongly by smokers as well as nonsmokers."(page 53).

The report also found that teenage girls were exhibiting a marked increase in smoking rates and individual consumption. While mentioning that teenage girls are not a "legitimate market," the paper mentions that this trend "will provide a substantial mrket in the future."

"The implication of these trends is that although this particular age groups is not a legitimate marketing target per se, it will provide a substantial market in the future if trends continue."

Of particular interest was the discussion about drug use and changing social values that permit wider use of drugs, particularly marijuana. Some people have stated that the tobacco industry has trademarked the street names of various types of marijuana for use if and when marijuana ever becomes legalized. The report confirms this, and even goes so far as to predict the value of a legalized marijuana market:

"[Marijuana] is the recreational drug; the choice of a significant minority of the population.

The trend in liberalization of drug laws reflect the overall change in our value system. It also has important implications for teh tobacco industry in terms of an alternative product line. "(The tobacco companies) have the land to grow it, the machines to roll it and package it [and] the distribution to market it" (Reference 20). In fact, some firms have registered trademarks which are taken directly from marijuana street jargon. These tradenames are used currently on little known legal products, but could be switched if and when marijuana is legalized. Estimates indicate that the market in legalized marijuana might be as high as $10 billion annually..."