Effects of cigarette smoking through a partially occluded filter

Area of Science:

• Tobacco Control
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• A commercially available corn syrup solution is applied to cigarette filters to create an occlusive barrier.
• The manufacturer claims this solution reduces exposure to nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and other tobacco smoke constituents.
• It is suggested as a smoking cessation aid by enabling gradual nicotine dose reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of a corn syrup solution on cigarette smoke exposure.
• To assess the reduction in nicotine and CO exposure with increasing drops of the solution.
• To investigate the potential of the solution as a smoking cessation tool.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, crossover experiment involving 19 volunteers smoking cigarettes with 0, 1, 2, or 3 drops of the solution.
• Measurement of plasma nicotine levels and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) after smoking.
• Machine smoking of treated cigarettes using Federal Trade Commission (FTC) methods to determine nicotine yields.

Main Results:

• Plasma nicotine increases decreased significantly with more drops: 13.3, 10.5, 9.7, and 6.0 ng/ml for 0, 1, 2, and 3 drops, respectively.
• A significant reduction in exhaled CO levels was observed in the 3-drop condition.
• Nicotine yields machine-smoked cigarettes were 1.0, 1.0, 0.78, and 0.73 mg for 0, 1, 2, and 3 drops, respectively.
• Subjects reported increased difficulty in cigarette draw and a trend toward decreased perceived strength.

Conclusions:

• The corn syrup solution effectively reduces exposure to nicotine and CO from a single cigarette.
• The application of the solution leads to a dose-dependent reduction in nicotine delivery.
• These findings support the potential utility of the corn syrup solution as an aid for smoking cessation.