Product Design
The Manipulation and Control of Nicotine and Tar in the Design and Manufacture of Cigarettes: a Scientific Perspective
Abstract
Overviews the cigarette industry's role in manipulating nicotine and tar content in cigarettes through the years. Traces nicotine research since the 1960's and says by the early 1980's, the industry understood that "smokers required a minimal level of nicotine within a cigarette." States industry research has shown both positive and negative effects of smoking and states "cigarettes are a nicotine delivery system." Describes the challenges of controlling nicotine levels by modifying blends or cigarette design and indicates nicotine delivery and smoker satisfaction go hand-in-hand. States industry-wide nicotine research is related to nicotine delivery and and product design. Says cigarette filters were changed to increase nicotine delivery, while various blends had specific filters that attained a predetermined nicotine/tar ratio. States the cigarette industry fully understands selective filtration. Describes the fabrication, economy and uses of reconstituted tobacco and says if the final reconstituted sheet fails to meet specifications, it can be recycled. Overviews the difficulties of optimizing the nicotine to tar ratio to provide smoker satisfaction, cautions current tobacco industry research is being hindered by the fear of lawsuits and states: "The argument is that any company should not create or be exposed to information that may come back to haunt them in civil litigation".
Fields
- Rank
- 1
- Author
- Farone, William Anthony, Ph.D. (PM Former Dir. of Applied Research, Anti-Tobacco Expert)Hired to make safer products and to find business alternatives outside the tobacco industry for PM.
- Hypothesis
- Behavior TargetingCigarette's effect of enhancing/mitigating specific behaviors
- Design changes over time
Changes in cigarette design over the past half century.- Health effects
Design changes which have measurably altered health effects of cigarette smoke, both for smokers and nonsmokers.- Introduction of new/unconventional products
Research and development of novel nicotine delivery devices and experimental tobacco designs.- Low-yield cigarettes
Modification of low yield products to assure that adequate levels of nicotine delivery are maintained, and effects of yield changes on toxicity and dependence.- Mainstream constituent yields
Modification of selected mainstream smoke constituents in response to health concerns.- Measuring human smoking behavior
Measuring the effects of changes in human smoking behavior on intake of nicotine and smoke constituents.- Nicotine transport, transfer, and uptake
Design changes which alter nicotine delivery or effect how the product causes and maintains dependence, including transfer of nicotine from tobacco to smoke, and uptake into the body.- Smoke constituent testing
Development of methods for measurement of gas and particulate yields in mainstream and sidestream smoke.- Smoking psychology and behavior
- Toxicity and consumer intake
Development of scientifically valid procedures for measuring biological activity and neurological effects of nicotine and smoke constituents.- Use of filters, paper, and ventilation
Modification of tobacco products through use of filters, paper, and ventilation, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.- Use of tobacco processing/ blends
Modification of tobacco products through changes in tobacco processing and use of blends, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity. - Design changes over time
- Keyword
- Addiction (Dependence)
- Behavioral effects (Behavioral pharmacology)
Addiction behavior, withdrawal, and measured nicotine effects- Benefits of Smoking
- Consumer acceptability (Consumer preference)
- Daily intake
- Delivery modification
- Flavor/ Taste (Attribute measure)
- High impact/low tar
- Low delivery (Reduced delivery)
- Nicotine delivery (Smoke nicotine or nicotine yield)
- Nicotine manipulation
- Satisfaction
- Self-administration
- Sensory response
- Smoke pH
Acidity/ baseness, scale from 0-14, 7 neutral- Smoker behavior (Human smoking behavior)
Puff parameters, daily intake, etc.- Smoking and Health
- Tar/Nicotine ratio (Nicotine/Tar Ratio or T/N ratio)
- Total particulate matter (TPM or Tar)
- Behavioral effects (Behavioral pharmacology)
- Additive
- Ammoniasee also: Ammonium bicarbonate, Ammonium carbonate, Ammonium chloride, Ammonium hydroxide, Ammonium sulfide, Diammonium phosphate, and Urea
- Urea
- Smoke Constituent
- Nicotine
- Design Component
- Blended leaf (BL)
- Bright tobacco (Flue-cured tobacco)
- Burley tobacco
- Burn rate
- Cellulose acetate filter (CA filter, Conventional filter)
- Reconstituted leaf (RL)
PM @reconstituted_tobacco, c. 1970s-1980s- Selective filtration
- Bright tobacco (Flue-cured tobacco)
- Named Organization
- British-American Tobacco Co Ltd (British-American Tobacco Co. Ltd.)British-American Tobacco Company Limited was a operating group under B.A.T. Industries P.L.C. in 1985.
- Applied Research
- Behavioral Research
- Philip Morris Incorporated (Philip Morris U.S.A.) (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Philip Morris Co., Inc.)
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Philip Morris Co., Inc.- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Cigarette manufacturer (Camel, Winston, Doral))
Cigarette manufacturer (Camel, Winston, Doral)- Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation (B&W)
Subsidiary of BAT U.S., located in Louisville, KY. - Applied Research
- Brand
- Table
- Premier Brand Cigarettes ("Smokeless" cigarette by RJR in the early 1990s)
"Smokeless" cigartte marketed by RJR in the early 1990s. Stationary furnace devices such as this operate by separating the combustion material (carbon) from the aerosol generating material (mostly glycerol) such that the inhaled by-products yielded upon smoking are the distilation products (glercerol and water) rather than combustion products (nicotine + smoke constituents). This is one reason why this product failed in market. Flavoring is derived from tobacco, nicotine, the paper roll and sprayed dried extract. Addition flavor of primarily rasberry ketone and chocolate was also added to enhance tobacco taste and give rise to a "pleasing aroma" in the smoke. This added flavor was a major reason that Premier failed in market as the taste was very different from conventional cigs.- MERIT ULTRA LIGHTS
- Premier Brand Cigarettes ("Smokeless" cigarette by RJR in the early 1990s)
- Subject
- Ammonia (Additives)
- Bioavailability (Measures)
- Blends (Design)
- Cancer (Health Effects)
- Cardiovascular Effects (Health Effects)
- Effects—Smoking Behavior (Effects)
- Expanded Tobacco (Design)
- Filters (Design)
- Formulas (Design)
- health effects
- Low Yield Cigarettes (Products)
- nicotine technology
- Paper (Design)
- pH Manipulation (Technology)
- Receptors (Effects)
- Reconstituted Tobacco (Design)
- Respiratory Effects (Health Effects)
- Sensory Effects—Impact (Effects)
- Sensory Effects—Taste (Effects)
- Smoke Constituents
- Smoke Delivery/Transport (Measures)
- Smoke Nicotine (Measures)
- Smoke pH (Measures)
- Smoothness/Harshness (Effects)
- T/N Ratios (Measures)
- Tar (Measures)
- Test/Consumer Preference (Testing)
- Test/Smoke Constituents (Testing)
- Tobacco Type (Design)
- Transfer to Smoke (Measures)
- Bioavailability (Measures)
Document Images
~;:gT 96, BT ~::~.~
iau-oduced in 1981 with an elevated nicotine to tar ratio of 0.11 ?' In fact, Philip Mo~s
utilized much of the technology and expertise of leaf and flavor ehemistz? and behavioral
research to mack ihe harsher taste associated with the presence off higher nicotine hurley
tobacco in the blend of MeriL'¢
The cigarette industry also altered the cigazerte filter in order to increase nicotine
delivery. As the public literature describes, t,he ind~y knew that "selective filtration"
was possible.2L Filter design and ventilation allowed the design and manufacture of
cigarettes that removed a higher percentage of tar than nicotine. Selective filtration was
accomplished by altering the technical specifications for a filter, e.g. by selecting
different filter tow combinations, varying the denier per filament, and deciding whether
or not to use additives in the filter. After the b/end was selected, appropriate filters were
;denti/3ed to attain a predetermined nlcotine/tar ratio, Manufacturers ofcigarcrlc filter
materials produced detailed technical presenlations promoting filters that provided higher
nicotlnc to laz ratios by selectively filtering out more tar. As noted above, the public
literature describes these techniques.:-"
Another componcn[ of cigarettes that is used ~o control nicotine delivery is reconstituted
tobacco. The tobacco industry, originally developed reconstituted tobacco as a cost-
.,.
:' Remarks of gep, I-leafy, A. Waxman. July 31. 1995. 1,11 Cong. Rec. H $007.
"0 "Second Speaker. Meril Team," R.cmarks. Philip Morris, Januar), 14. 1976.
~'~ Browne CL.. ~ Third ~dlrion, Hoet.hszCeI~ese C~Iion. 1990. page 72.
"-' su~,,,, l0 1940OO'177
~.'L
~' d 08Ct~60[g(J~ '()R/ 00:L[ 96,8[ ~0 (~o~) O~IIGI~{I/~ iqliil 'HIIg ~[0}I~I
T£:9~ 96, 8~ ~UW
saving measure. Over the last severaJ decades the induswy has used reconstituted tobacco
products to assist in controlling the r~cofine delivery in cigaze'aes. Reconstituted tobacco
is composed of returned cigazet~es, tobacco sterns, scraps, and dust. By use of ehher a
wet paper making process or a bandcast process these scraps are made into tobacco shee~
or reconstituted tobacco.23 By controlling the ingredients that go into rn~d',L'~g
reconstituted tobacco, the industry controls the chemical and physical properties of the
finished sheet, including its nicotine content. For example, rcconsfitutcd tobacco used in a
low tar cigarette blend can be made differently from the reconstituted tobacco used in a
full flavor cigarette. The rccon.stituted tobacco blend destined for a low ~,r elgarct~e can
be made wluh a higher concentration of hurley tobacco scraps than the blend of
reconstituted tobacco designated for a full flavor brand. Reconstituted tobacco is closely
controlled for its chemical properties sad burn rate sad flavor controlling additives. The
alkaloid (mostly nicotine) and sugar content of all the scrap used can be measured and
precisely blended into reconstituted tobacco. The levels of nicotine and other key
compounds can also be measured to insure controt in reconstituted tobacco. Quality
control chocks involvin=o the use of a gas or liquid c~omamgraphy to ascertain the exact
nicotine amounts arc routinely employed during the process. Final product that fails to
ma¢~ the design specifications for nicotine can be returned to the start o[th¢ process or rc-
blended.
:~ Browne CL.. supra n. 21. pages 44~7.
8# 088 6019£80it/ O0:L[ 96,8t '80(NOA)
12
~£:91 96, 81 ~UW
The delivery of tar and nlcodne is a complicazed scicn6fic problcrn and recent reports ~xe
nov., shedding more light on how the problem w~s solved. The use of ammonia chemisu"y
was important to the indusu'y in maintaining adequate nicotine delivery to satisfy
smokers,z4 The industry was able to deliver more of~he available nicotine in the blend to
the smoker by using ammonia compounds. This apparently works by increasing the pH
of the tobacco smoke. Con .~... only, the pH (or level of baslcity) is increased by the
addition of ammonia compounds either as additives or in the manufacture of reconstituted
tobacco. A.,v.monia is sometimes introduced by casings such as urea that axe applied to
tobacco and then decompose into ammonia at which point they can increase the pH of the
smoke. These casings include ingredients like amino acids, proteins, and other products
that decompose or by pyrolysis are changed into pH increasing agenLs, such s.s anunonia.
In the complex world of tobacco smoke chemistry, by increasing the pH of the aerosol in
the mainstream smoke, more of the aerosol would be in the vapor phase and less in the
liquid (or condensed) phase. By increasing the ratio of vapor phase to liquid phase, one
increases the total nicotine delivery since the condensed phase is less like}y ~o survive the
fihcr and the trip to the lungs.
All of the cigarene components described above were incorporated into complex
computer models to help determine nicotine and tar dcliverlcs while cigarettes were in the
product development Stage. These models allowed blend ingredients, fihc~ and paper
components, and numerous other variables to be considered simultaneously. The models
_-8 Freedman AM., "Impact Booste? Tobs¢¢o Firm Shows How Ammonia Spurs D©live~ oFNicotln¢."
The Wall Street.lournsl. Octo':.¢r l& 1995. AI.
294000279
#P d 088V6019£8 'Or, I/ IO:LI 96,8I '80(NO ) 9NI q31&
~S:9t 96, 81 ~W
enabled nlcotin¢ and mr deliveries to be successfully predicted and enabled product
developers to identify which components were required to produce specific nicotine and
tar deliveries. Models of Ibis type are well suited to the use of compuPrs and arc:
discussed in the published literature,zs
The tobacco indusa7 found that in the manipulation of the nicotine/tar ratio, the methods
used to increase the nicotine to tar ratio sometimes rcsuhed in a cigarette that was too
harsh. With a standard nicozind~ ratio in a traditional cigarette no flavor smoothing
compounds arc generally needed to produce a palatable cigarette. The higher iar levels in
traditional ¢igaretxcs mask the harshness ofnicotlnc and ~c ~soeiatcd compounds
produced in higher nicotine to tar ratios. A low lar clgarctte with a higher nicotine/tar
ra~io tha.a a traditional cigarette couid bc very harsh due to the lack of sufficlent specific
tar components to mask the nicotine and related basle compounds. To overcome the
.u Schneider M., ct el., "Computer Aided Cigareae Dcslgn," Abs~n~ez from the 36th Tobacco
Chemists'
Research Conferrace, Raleigh, NC, Paper No. 34, 1982.
DeBmd~bcn HZ., "Role of Ci~m'cne Physical Ch~etemfic~ on Smoke Composition," Absr,'Itc( from the
$2nd Tobx:¢o Chemists" Research Confercnc¢. Mon~al. Quebec, Paper No. 5. 1978.
OeLucia M1.,., el el., "Principles for the Design of Low Delivery Cigarcaes." Abstract from ~he ]4th
Tobacco
Chemisu" Research Conference, Richmond, Virginia. Paper No. 34. 191;0.
Ohlemiller, et eL. "A Malhernatical Model of Cigarette Smoking anal Prcdlcfions of Cigarette
Performance,"
Abstract from 27th Tobacco Cbemlstz' Research Conference, Winston-Salem. NC. Paper No. 34, 19"D.
Curran JO, ¢¢ el., "Perforalcd Ti~ing and Porous Plugweap Effects on Performance of Vented-Filter
Cigatencs: Mathematical Models," Abstract from 34~h Tobacco Chemists' Research Conference. gichmond,
VA. Paper No, 34, 1950.
1940001S0
14
SP d 088¢6019£8 ~g" IO:/l 96,8l'$0(N0~) O~IG1~I8 ~ NI38 '1311g
~088
9~0"~d
TS:gI 96, 8T ~N
. i,.,
harshness dus xo the increased burley in the blend, the ..... z6
mdusu-y used flavor smoo~crs.
While some of the research into the const:'uction and design of the low tat cigarette is
now becoming publicly available, much of the novel and g-:ound tn'eaking scientific
research ofthc tobacco industry has not come to the public's aacntion. The sequestering
of much good science wi~n the industry can be ~accd to fears within the industry that
this research might be used in litigation against the indusa'y. Recent documents and
stories have come to light that illustrate the quandcy faced by tobacco indusay
management. The argument is that any company should not create or be exposed to
information that may come back to haunt them in civil litigation.. The closing down of
Dr. Vie:or DeNoble's nicotine studies at-Philip Morris and the screening of Brltish
American Tobacco (BATCO) scientific reports by Brown & Williamson arEomeys as
described by Dr. Jeffcry Wigand are two well 'known ex~'nples."~7 The point, however, is
that much of thls research is bcneficiai to the smoker if we concede the premise that
smoking is lawful and enjoyable ro many people.
In other counL,ies smoking res,'arch is treated in a much more open manner and this has
led to a great deal of smoking research being performed outside the U. S. Some countries
.,6 Lefftagw¢ll ./C., "Nitrogen Componen~ of Leaf and Their Relationship to Smoking Quali~ and
Aroma." The 30th Tobacco Chemists' Research Conference, Nashville, TN, Paper No. 1. 1976.
:7 Freedman AM.. "Ciguerge Defector Says CEO Lied to Congress Abom View of Nicot;ne."
~r..~,L~gmcJ. Jan,my 2.6. 1996.
1940001Si
gP d 088#601g~8 '01{/ IO:LI 96,81 '80(NO~) 0~IG~311 ~ NI~ '~IIM ~0~
&~O° Bgb~cl
zc:gl 96, 8T ~W
require testing of flavor additives, including tests on animals. In Japan, where The
government con~'ols the tobacco monopoly, the research on lowering carcinogeniciD, is
discussed openly.
Tobacco industry scientists conducted research utilizing elcctroenccphalograrns (EEG's)
in the 1970's7s The initial theory behind EEG resca;ch was to expand upon published
research that nicotine had a beneficial effect on brain wave patterns. The work was
demonstrating that positive brain wave patterns could be ackieved with persons who
smoked a cigarette and were then required to undertake difficult tasks. The workers
tested three cigarettes with the same tar level but varying levels ofnicofine. Subjects who
smoked the.clgarcttcs were monitored by EEG. This research is valuable because ~ the
EEG testing became more sophisticated, the EEG might be used to determine whether
clgareaes had adequam levels of nicotine, and whether a particular ingredient was a
nicotine enhancer or nicotine substiMe.
Research of this type can be carded out in foreign countries, or in an environment where
fear of lawsuits do not override the need to improve products. In an "open" environment,
with cooperation on the nature of cigare,e products between the industry and government
regulators, research ofthls type could be used to "optimize" the cigarette for those who
continue to desire to smoke. Rather than restrict the options of what companies could do.
:s Memo 6"ore WL Dunn m TS Osdene, "Plans and Obje~ives .- 1979," Philip Monis.
December 6, 197S,
~n 141 Cong. Re¢. 7668 et :¢q.
1940001S
LI7 d 08~'00196~ :ON/ IO:LI 96,8l '~O(NO}X) DRI(11.~I,'1%' Rl~i}1
'IaII~. ~011:i
8~'0"39~kJ
96, 81 ~W
agreement 6e'CWeen regulators and indusu'y would open up entirely new options for
cigareuc construction and progress in the industr),.
Williato A. Faron¢, Ph.D.
81g
About the Author
Dr. William A, F~,onc, Ph.D., is the PresJdem. Chief Executive Officer, Applied Powar
Concepts, Inc.. a Company which develops chemical technology and biotechnology. Dr.
Fa.rone was the Director of Applied Research, Philip Morris, Inc.. from 1976 to 1984. He
supervised 5 divisions with a total of 1.50 persons (mostly professioaa/s). HE developed
and implcmcmed programs leading to new technology for utilization in new products and
new processes with strong emph~is on biotechnology, physical chemistry, and physics.
From 1975 to 1976, he was the VicE-President, Research and Development of PVO
l, nternational, ]no. From 1972 to 1975, he was lh¢ Director of Scicmific Research, Lever
Brothers Company. H¢ has a B.5. in Chcnfistry (1961). M.S. in Chemistry (1962), and
Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (1965) all from Clarkson University in Polsdarn. NgwYork.
0:11 96 ,SI (i, I0 0
:1."/
194000183
