Smoking Behavior and Smoke Constituents from Cigarillos and Little Cigars

Although most cigarillos and little cigars smokers also smoke cigarettes (dual use), there are few studies comparing toxicant exposure and smoking behavior in cigars and cigarettes.

Two groups of dual users smoked their usual brand of cigarette and either a Winchester unflavored little cigar (N = 21) or a Black & Mild cigarillo (N = 23). Acute exposure of nicotine and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and puffing topography parameters were collected. Individual cigar puffing data were used to machine-replicate smoking for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) in mainstream smoke.

There were significant differences in puff topography, plasma nicotine and exhaled CO after cigarettes, little cigars, and cigarillos. Puff topography differences between cigarillos and cigarettes were due to the difference in the size of the article. Mainstream cigar and cigarette smoke was qualitatively similar; the yield was dependent on the smoking behavior. When smoke yield was adjusted for weight of tobacco burned or puff volume, exposure differences decreased.

There is a wide range of delivery of both SVOC and VOC components of cigar and cigarillo smoke. The difference in exposure is largely dependent on the article size and the amount consumed.