Tobacco Documents Online

Status report on efforts to design a reduced-TPM cigarette. Reducing TPM appears to be dependent on the degradation of a "film" constituent in the cigarette. The amount of "film" used apparently varies the porosity of the paper. States it is possible that formation of a new coal "helps in film degradation"

Memo addresses some of the adverse effects from cocoa beans and the cocoa bean shell. States 4 patents which cover formulations of tobacco with cocoa beans or nontobacco formulations utilizing cocoa beans and the processes for manufacture of these smoking materials. Memo states 'it appears that the federal regulatory agencies are somewhat misguided in allowing no health warning for BOGART and FREE cigarettes'.

Reports on a meeting of 8/22/1983 with Brown & Williamson wherein a representative of a paper company (Schweitzer) showed attendees two types of cigarette papers, one self-extinguishing and the other low-ignition propensity. Both types start with a paper that does not support combustion and they force it to burn by adding high levels of potassium citrate. The appearance of the papers is "equivalent to normal papers." Cigarette deliveries "are increased by -30%." If tar is adjusted by ventilation CO deliveries are sill 10-15% higher than normal. No major taste differences were noted by the paper company's in-house test panel. Cost is estimated to be 2-3 times higher than normal paper. Roduced ignition paper is a little lower in cost than the low-ignition propensity paper.

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.

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.

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.

Describes the configuration necessary for cigarettes to achieve dilution resulting in lower delivery of TPM. Results showed that air dilution holes must "be opened well back of the coal (10-20 cm) to have a noticeable effect on TPM delivery." Says that lots of holes opened nearer to the coal have little or no effect on TPM delivery. Questions the effect of coal temperature reduction on TPM delivery, syaing the problem is more specific to the paper used.

Hypothesizes that the smoker would be satisfied by a cigarette that delivers "full bodied" puffs (rich in contituents) in the first part of the cigarette, but that thereafter the smoke would become more air-diluted resulting in a lowered TPM and nicotine delivery for the rest of the cigarette. Proposes to achieve delayed dilution by covering the air dilution holes in the filter with a film that would degrade and open the holes after being contacted by smoke constitutents during early puffs.

Computer generated literature search lists citations.