Impacts on Main Stream Components of Low Tar Cigarettes by Different Filter Vents Blocking

Objectives  To study the impacts on the main stream components of low-tar cigarette by different filter vents blockings and provide a basis for correctly understanding the adverse effects of low-tar cigarette smoking.

Methods  One brand of domestic low-tar cigarette with 1, 3, 5 and 8 mg tar per cigarette were selected. The smoking process was simulated on the linear smoking machine by the Canadian intense smoking method and the filter vents of cigarettes were covered by tape as full or half blocked. The mainstream particles of cigarettes were collected on filters and the components of tobacco specific nitrosamines (NNN, NNK), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as carbon monoxide (CO) were analyzed. The influence on the mainstream components of low-tar cigarette by different filter vents blockings were compared.

Results  Either the filter vents of low-tar cigarettes were full or half blocked, the CO, NNN, NNK and PAHs release from the mainstream smoke was all higher than that of unblocked.

Conclusions  In actual smoking, the filter vents of cigarette usually blocked by fingers or lips. Therefore the habit of blocking may increase the exposure of hazardous substances in tobacco smoking, then increase the health risk of low-tar cigarettes smoking.