Tobacco Documents Online

Memo presenting the results of infrared analysis of gas phase carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and acetaldehyde in "diluted" cigarettes of various brands compared with 15 mg and 12 mg (nicotine?) controlled profile cigarettes.

This is a summary of the subject article, printed in British Medical Journal (in 1976). The study was of the effect of smoking cigarettes with 30% of the tobacco replaced with a tobacco substitute (NSM, presumed to stand for "new smoking material.") NSM was to reduce the tar and nicotine delivery of the cigarettes. Subjects' chest symptoms, cigarette consumption and forced expiratory respiratory volumes were measured monthly. 200 men began the trial and 159 completed it. The study states that the test cigarettes were acceptable to all but one of the subjects. The study noted a "small but significant" reduction of cough. It concludes that cigarettes of 30% NSM that deliver only 1 mg. of nicotine are "likely to be acceptable to smokers and may reduce coughing." Says further trials are needed to establish what long-term effects such cigarettes may have on smokers' health.

Report details cigarettes manufactured by PM were shipped to Cologne, W. Germany for condensate collection and dermal testing on mice to repeat an NCI experiment of a cocoa containing cigarette. Cigarettes containing 0,1, or 3% cocoa powder were tested. The report concludes that the low dose group for 1% cocoa sample is an anomalous result, and that cocoa, when added to tobacco, has no effect on the tumorigenicity of cigarette smoke condensate on mouse skin. Tobacco blend differed from NCI blend. PM used paper process whereas NCI used slurry process for making the cigarette to be tested.

Says Congressman Moakley's Fire Safe Cigarette bill (#HR1880, 1983) "offers a satisfactory basis for initiating studies on self-extinguishing cigarettes" but states that the task is "very complex" and that "one could not hope to arrive at scientifically sound conclusions after only 2 years of research". Says it is unwise to disregard the potential for increased toxicity of self-extinguishing cigarettes. Suggests step-by-step development of a program for testing self-extinguishing cigarettes, including tests for ignition propoensity, determinations of tar, nicotine and CO, smoke analyses and biolassays, clinical assays and biological testing.

The Cigarette Safety Act of 1984 established a Technical Study group to determine technical and commercial feasibility, economic impact and other consequences of developing low-ignition-propensity cigarettes. The Fire Safety Act of 1990 required completion of a test method and information on the changes in toxicity of the smoke of a low ignition propensity cigarette. RJR concludes that it is "infeasiable" to develop such a testing standard because the tests so far developed "haven't been demonstrated as valid and reliable predictors of how cigarettes will perform in "real world" circumstances. Also, there was "serious concerns" raised that changes in cigarettes to achieve lower ignition propensity would "bring about other unintended adverse changes to the consumer." These included negative taste and smoke characteristics. RJR says that it has "as yet been unable to make a reduced ingition propensity products...which are acceptable to smokers." The report criticizes NIST testing standards, says that no information has come about from the 1990 Act that alleviates concerns about increased biological activity, and that RJR has been unable to make a fire-safe cigarette that is acceptable to consumers. RJR thus says these reasons make "cigarette ignition performace standards presently infeasible."

Report of an "Expert Panel" which addresses scientific aspects of design of cigarette toxicity testing systems, the selection and sequencing of particular tests, the reliability, feasibility and costs of tests and the interpretation, limitations, uses and results. Lists the major health effects of cigarette smoke that need to be considered: cancer, non-cancerous lung diseases, atherosclerotic diseases of the heart and blood vessels and toxicity to the human reproductive system. Is very frank about what diseases are caused by cigarette smoke. Says "The psychoactive drug in cigarette smoke is nicotine. Cigarette smoking is a highly controlled form of self-administration of this drug. Says no federal or state agency is currently required to perform tests for toxicity on various brands of marketed cigarettes. Says no test solves the problem of evaluating health effects of new, undisclosed cigarette additives. Concludes that disclosure of additives is required for adequate toxiciity testing, and that testing cannot be done on undisclosed additives.

A brief summary of a draft report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on that organization's plan for assessing the potential health impact of fire-safe cigarettes. States that the report says there are "several adverse health effects which for the basis" of the toxicity testing." The first level of testing will test smoke for various comonents related to the health effects of smoking. The second level tests cigarette smoke tar in living cells. Another tests tries to detect the cancer-causing potential in mouse cells. The third level will determine if people smoke low ignition potential cigarette differently than traditional brands. Fourth level examines the response of animals to cigarette smoke. Another looks for tumor formation in upper respiratory tract of hamsters exposed to cgiarette smoke. Another test will be a skin-painting test to look for cancer. Prototype cigarettes would be tested against it current commercial counterpart.

Lists diseases known to be caused by smoking. Admits testing cannot address them all. Contains a chart explaining cigarette chemical components and their effects on health.

Summarizes a Tobacco Working Group meeting. Reports the current status of skin painting experiments, discusses smoking and health issues and methods for developing a less hazardous cigarette.

Outlines Philip Morris' [PM] five year research and development strategic goals, operational plans and manufacturing recommendations. Compiles and analyzes competitor's strengths and weaknesses, cites serious shortfalls due to decreasing cigarette sales and increasing costs associated with regulatory compliance. Attributes some of these declines to competition and says the pharmaceutical companies marketing of tobacco cessation products and the anti-smoking movement further impacts market share. States reducing manufacturing costs and maximizing existing brand sales are short term goals and indicates consumer perceptions of branding and product quality are key elements to success. Lists production concepts for leaf selection, tobacco processing, use of reconstituted blends and decreases in cigarette weight. States a major shift to increased use of expanded tobacco, reconstituted leaf and cast sheet tobacco is in play and says environmental regulations restrict and "impact the design and marketing of our products." Lists strategies to: reduce the number of ingredients in flavor formulations, continue to decrease sidestream [SS] smoke, reduce Carbon monoxide [CO] and overcome consumer health concerns and the technical problems of cigarette design and production.

Computer generated literature search lists citations.