Letter (re: self-extinguishing cigarettes)

Product Design

Letter (re: self-extinguishing cigarettes)

Date: 12 Mar 1975
Length: 2 pages
2021335470-5471
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Abstract

Letter from Gio Gori, Deputy Director of Div. of Cancer Cause and Prevention at HEW, to Senator Frank Moss, Chair of the Subcommittee for Consumers, Commerce Committee, replying to Moss' inquiry regarding self-extinguishing cigarettes. Gori says the aim of HEW's activities is to "reduce the chronic health hazards of cigarette smokeing." Says they are aware of approaches to produce fire-resistant cigarettes. One method uses ammonium sulfate impregnated paper, but that these cigarettes have a short shelf life. The tar condensate does not appear worse than control cigarette when painted on mouse skin, but overall tar yield, number of puffs and carbon monoxide emission did increase. Says that paper treated with silicates reduces burning rate but increases condensate yield and carbon monoxide emission per cigarette.

Use of sodium borate "considerably increase phenols and benzo-a-pyrene production per cigarette."

Says the "overall understanding we have accumulated on the relationship of combustion characteristics and chronic pathogenic effects of cigarette smoke indicates that a reduction in the burning rate is likely to increase" tar, CO and nitrogen oxide emissions per cigarette, and therefore increases the risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and emphysema in the smoker. Says it may still be possible, however, to produce a cigarette with a reduced fire hazard and reduced chronic health hazard of smoke.

Fields

Author: Gori, G.B.
Hypothesis: 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.; Mainstream constituent yields
Modification of selected mainstream smoke constituents in response to health concerns.; Toxicity and consumer intake
Development of scientifically valid procedures for measuring biological activity and neurological effects of nicotine and smoke constituents.; Use of additives
Modification of tobacco products through use of additives and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.; 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.
Keyword: Self extinguishing
Additive: Ammonium sulfamate; Silicates; Sodium borate
Design Component: Paper treatment
Named Organization: Beitrag Fur Tabackforshung; Cancer
Technology/Method: Self-extinguishing cigarette
Subject: Experimental Technology (Technology); Fire Safe Cigarettes (Products); Paper (Design); Puff Count (Measures); Smoke Constituents; Test/Smoke Constituents (Testing); Tar (Measures); Burn Rate (Design)

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i . w . r DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20014 NATIONAL CANCERINSTITUTE MAR 1219T5 Honorable Frank E. Moss Chairman, Subcommittee for Consumers Committee on Commerce UnitediStates Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Moss: I have your inquiry of March 5 regardingiself-extinguishing cigarettes. Although the aim of our activities is to reduce the chronic health hazards of cigarette smoking, we are aware of some attempts to produce fire-resistant cigarettes. One such approach employs ammonium sulfamate impregnated-paper: Besides---- manufacturing problems and the short shelf-life of the cigarettes so treated, their condensate (tar) does not appear worse thanithe control tobacco when painted on mouse skin (Bock, F., et al, Cancer, 33, 1010, 1974), but the overall tar yield, number of puffs andicarbon monoxide emission per cigarette is increased. Treatment of the paper with silicates greatly reduces porosity and the burning-rate, but also significantly increases the-condensate yield and the carbon monoxide emission per ciigare;tte, according to unpubl'ished'tests conducted iniour laboratories. The use of sodium borate has considerably increased phenols and benzo-a- pyrene production per cigarette (B'enner, et al, Beitrag fur Tabackforshung, No. 5, 74, 1969). Miller et al (Beitrag fur Tabackforshung, No. 4, 269, 1968) have tested a variety of flame retardant compoun s, generally finding themiunacceptabl'e for cigarette marketing requirements. The overall understandingiwe have accumulated on the relationship of combustion characteristics and chronic pathogenic effects of cigarette smoke indicates that a reduction of the burning,rate is likely to increase condensate (tar), carbon mono ide and nitrogen oxides emission per cigarette, and therefore to increase the risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and emphysema in the smoker.

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Page 2 - Honorable Frank E. Moss Although this statement is generally valid, it does not exclude that specific approaches could be invented to reduce simultaneously the fire hazards of cigarettes and the chronic health hazards of their smoke. A case-by-case approach may be necessary: a first evaluation of a particular solution should incliude determination of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emission and fire retardation capabilities. If initial resul'ts appear promising, then bi'oTogical testing, preferably by chronic inhalation experiments, should determine more precisely the potential health risks. Please let me know if you need additional information. Sincerely yours, ...~. \1 Gio B. Gori, Ph.D. Deputy Director Division of Cancer Cause and Prevention

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