A comprehensive evaluation of the toxicology of different cut widths of tobacco in experimental cigarettes.

Context: Literature suggests that the width of tobacco strips in cigarettes may affect the smoke chemistry and toxicology of such products.
Objective: A comprehensive analysis of smoke from experimental cigarettes can be used to determine whether different cut widths of tobacco result in different toxicological activity.
Materials and Methods: A battery of tests was used to compare the chemistry and in vitro and in vivo toxicology of smoke from experimental cigarettes made with tobacco cut to different widths.
Results: Different cut widths of tobacco did not elicit consistent and significant differences in cigarette smoke chemistry, responses in in vitro mutagenicity or cytotoxicity assays or most endpoints in 90-d rat inhalation studies. Of note, however, were atypical in-life observations and slightly depressed body weights observed in two rat inhalation studies.
Conclusion: Most of our data indicate that different cut widths of tobacco used in cigarettes are unlikely to change the toxicity of mainstream cigarette smoke; however, without additional investigation, the atypical in-life observations and depression in body weights cast doubt on the toxicological acceptability of cutting the tobacco into wider shreds.