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TSRC, Tob. Sci. Res. Conf., 2011, 65, abstr. 17

The use of cigarette smoke dilution by glycerol as a means of reducing smokers exposure to smoke toxicants.

McADAM K.G.(1); GREGG E.O.(2); LIU C.(1); DITTRICH D.J.(1); DUKE M.G.(1); PROCTOR C.J.(1)
(1) British American Tobacco, Group R&D, Southampton, UK; (2) Consultant, ENI Limited, Towcester, UK

The Institute of Medicine encouraged the pursuit and development of potential reduced exposure products, tobacco products that substantially reduce exposure to one or more tobacco toxicants and can reasonably be expected to reduce the risk of one or more specific diseases or other adverse health effects. One possible approach for reducing exposure of smokers to cigarette smoke toxicants is to dilute mainstream smoke with glycerol.

We describe the development of a novel glycerol containing "tobacco-substitute" sheet, and its inclusion in experimental cigarettes at levels up to 60% w/w. Analysis of mainstream smoke from these experimental cigarettes showed reductions in the yields of most measured constituents. In vitro toxicological tests showed reductions in the activity of smoke particulates in proportion to the % smoke glycerol content. Human exposure to nicotine and some particulate phase compounds were reduced by 14% to 29%, as determined by filter studies and 24h urinary biomarker analysis. These results demonstrate that reducing exposure to some smoke toxicants is possible through incorporation of a glycerol bearing tobacco-substitute sheet in cigarettes.