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Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are one of the most extensively and continually studied classes of compounds found in tobacco and cigarette smoke.1-5 The TSNAs N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) have been characterized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as harmful and potentially harmful constituents in tobacco products,6 and cigarette manufacturers report their levels in cigarette tobacco filler and cigarette smoke to the FDA. NNN and NNK are classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans.7 TSNAs transfer from tobacco to smoke by evaporation driven by heat and the flow of gases down the cigarette rod. Other TSNA sources in smoke include pyrorelease, where room temperature-unextractable TSNAs are released by smoking, and pyrosynthesis, where TSNAs are formed by reactions during smoking. We propose the first model that quantifies these three sources of TSNA in smoke. In our model, evaporative transfer efficiency of a TSNA is equated to the evaporative transfer efficiency of nicotine. Smoke TSNA measured in excess of what is transferred by evaporation is termed "pyrogeneration," which is the net sum of pyrorelease and pyrosynthesis minus pyrodegredation. This model requires no internal standard, is applicable to commercial cigarettes "as is," and uses existing analytical methods. This model was applied to archived Philip Morris USA data. For commercial blended cigarettes, NNN pyrogeneration appears to be unimportant, but NNK pyrogeneration contributes roughly 30-70% of NNK in smoke with the greater contribution at lower tobacco NNK levels. This means there is an opportunity to significantly reduce smoke NNK by up to 70% if pyrogeneration can be decreased or eliminated, perhaps by finding a way to grow and cure tobacco with reduced matrix-bound NNK. For burley research cigarettes, pyrogeneration may account for 90% or more of both NNN and NNK in smoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the lack of evidence, many reports exist which have implied that smokers inhale low-yield cigarette smoke more deeply than that of high-yield cigarettes. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term switching between smoker's own brand and test cigarettes with different smoke yields on puffing topography, respiratory parameters and biomarkers of exposure. Participants were randomly assigned to smoke either a Test Cigarette-High Tar (TCH), for two days, and then switched to a Test Cigarette-Low Tar (TCL), for two days or the reverse order ( n = 10 each sequence). Puffing topography (CReSS microdevice), respiratory parameters (inductive plethysmography) and biomarkers of exposure (BOE, urinary nicotine equivalents - NE and blood carboxyhemoglobin - COHb) were measured at baseline and on days 2 and 4. The average puffs per cigarette, puff volume and puff durations were statistically significantly lower, and inter-puff interval was significantly longer for the TCH compared to the TCL groups. Respiratory parameters were not statistically significantly different between the TCH and TCL groups. Post-baseline NE and COHb were statistically significantly lower in the TCL compared to the TCH groups. Under the conditions of this study, we found no indication of changes in respiratory parameters, particularly inhalation time and volume, between study participants smoking lower versus higher yield cigarettes. Likewise, the BOE provides no indication of deeper inhalation when smoking low- versus high-yield cigarettes. These findings are consistent with the published literature indicating smoking low-yield cigarettes does not increase the depth of inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We gathered published data of urinary NNAL excretion among cigarette smokers. [•] The data suggest TSNA exposure has declined among cigarette smokers over the past 18years. [•] The decline in TSNA exposure is not explained by a decline in cigarettes smoked per day. [•] These findings are consistent with reductions in cigarette tobacco and smoke TSNA levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We gathered 35years of published data of NNK and NNN levels in cigarette smoke. [•] We augmented these data with internal, unpublished data from Philip Morris USA Inc. [•] The data suggest TSNA levels have not increased in cigarette smoke over time. [•] The data suggest TSNA levels have declined in cigarette smoke over the past 10years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cigarette burn time (CBT), conventionally defined as the time a cigarette burns during smoking, can be affected by cigarette design and smoking behavior. A previous study showed a strong negative correlation between CBT and nicotine yield under machine smoking conditions. This study for the first time examined the relationship of CBT and exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide in adult smokers in a controlled clinical study. 24h nicotine equivalents excretion (NE), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and CBT were measured in two groups of 20 adults smoking Marlboro Lights and 20 adults smoking Marlboro Ultra on two consecutive days. Approximately 20% of the total variability in CBT was attributed to cigarette brand, 34% to smokers and 1% to study day. The exposure index, defined as the number of cigarettes smoked per day divided by average daily CBT for each smoker, accounted for a large proportion of the total variability in NE (R 2 =0.79–0.91) and COHb (R 2 =0.85–0.90). We conclude that CBT has an important influence on levels of NE and COHb in adult smokers. CBT, along with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, can be used to estimate adult smokers’ exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Low levels of thermal degradation products such as carbonyls (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, crotonaldehyde) have been reported in e-cigarette aerosols. The collection and analysis of e-cigarette aerosol carbonyls are often adapted from methods developed for tobacco cigarette smoke. These methodologies are often not sensitive enough to detect low carbonyl levels in e-cigarette aerosols. One objective of this work was to develop and validate a rapid, selective and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method optimized for analysis of carbonyls in e-cigarette aerosols. Aerosols were trapped in 20-puff collections, 4-s durations, 55-mL volumes, 30-s intervals, square wave puff profiles. Collection apparatus involved a linear smoking machine with Cambridge filter pad followed by a glass impinger containing acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. This method showed limits of quantitation and detection of 0.016 and 0.003 μg puff-1, respectively, and run time of 4 min. Six e-cigarettes were evaluated (five devices each). All contained measurable levels of carbonyls. Levels were mostly well below those in conventional cigarettes. However, for some e-cigarettes, formaldehyde levels were above those for tobacco cigarettes (highest at 14.1 μg puff-1). Temperatures related to carbonyl yields in e-cigarette aerosols were explored to better understand carbonyl formation: formation of formaldehyde is low at temperatures below 350°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing proportion of lung cancers classified as adenocarcinoma has been a topic of interest and research. The main objective of the analyses reported here is to summarize how the proportion of adenocarcinoma varies in never smokers by time, sex and region based on published evidence on the distribution of lung cancer types available from epidemiological studies. Based on 219 sex- and period-specific blocks of data drawn from 157 publications, there appears to be a clear time-related increase in the proportion of lung cancers in never smokers that are adenocarcinoma, which is evident in both sexes, and not specific to any region. It is seen whether the denominator of the proportion is made up of adenocarcinoma plus squamous cell carcinoma cases, cases of the four major types combined, or all lung cancer cases. The ratio of adenocarcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma rose continuously from 1950 to 69 to be almost 4 times higher for the data from 2000 onwards. We discuss factors that may have contributed to the observed findings, including changes in lung cancer classification. Our findings argue against the hypothesis that increases in the ratio arise from changes in cigarette design and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]