Determination of carcinogenic tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream smoke from U.S.‐brand and non‐U.S.‐brand cigarettes from 14 countries

Abstract

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) comprise one of the major classes of carcinogenic compounds in mainstream cigarette smoke. As part of collaborative efforts between the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce tobacco use and resulting disease, the CDC examined carcinogenic TSNA levels from cigarettes obtained from selected countries around the world. Using a modern, high-throughput liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method under stringent quality control protocols, we determined the carcinogenic TSNA levels in mainstream smoke from a globally marketed brand, Marlboro, and from local top-selling cigarette brands from 14 countries. The levels of carcinogenic TSNAs in mainstream smoke collected using a 35-ml puff volume, 60-s puff interval, and 2-s puff duration correlated well (R=0.79, p<.0001) with previously reported levels in the corresponding tobacco filler. Marlboro cigarettes purchased in 10 countries had significantly higher carcinogenic TSNA levels in mainstream smoke than did local-brand cigarettes from the same country. In only one country, Brazil, were the carcinogenic TSNA levels in mainstream smoke from Marlboro cigarettes significantly lower than in the locally popular brand. However, carcinogenic TSNA levels in mainstream smoke from Brazilian Marlboro cigarettes were usually lower than those in mainstream smoke from the Marlboros purchased in the other 13 countries, suggesting a reason for the difference. The wide range of mainstream smoke carcinogenic TSNA levels measured in the present study (8.7-312 ng/cigarette) suggest that manufacturers can lower the carcinogenic TSNA levels and that, for similar filter ventilation, carcinogenic TSNA levels in the tobacco filler of a cigarette are a useful indicator of the corresponding levels in mainstream smoke.

Levels of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mainstream Smoke from Different Tobacco Varieties

“…Although it is not of the same magnitude, removing burley from the comparison dramatically reduces the NNK smoke levels from cigarettes with higher percentages of bright or oriental tobaccos. The variation in TSNA levels with tobacco type was also evident in previous studies of TSNAs in tobacco and smoke from cigarettes purchased globally (24,25). Depending on tobacco type (bright or American blended), total smoke TSNAs vary significantly.…”

Biomarkers in cancer epidemiology: an integrative approach

“…Urinary NNAL is a biomarker of tobacco smoking which has recently been shown to quantitatively predict the risk of lung cancer (23) (Figure 2). More interestingly, the level of this biomarker has been found to be lower in Chinese from Shanghai than in Chinese from Singapore (Table V), probably reflecting the content in tobaccospecific nitrosamines in the smoke from cigarettes sold in the two countries (26). This finding might contribute to explain the lower relative risk of lung cancer observed in Chinese smokers as compared with smokers from other countries (27).…”

Reducing Carcinogen Levels in Cigarette Smoke

“…Cigarettes from different countries show wide variations in TSNA content (e.g., those from the United States had TSNA levels seven times higher than those from Bangladesh; ref. 4). Cigarette TSNA levels were strongly correlated with those for nitrate (3,5), suggesting that TSNA arise from the reaction of amines with nitrite derived from nitrate in the tobacco.…”

“…TSNA level was not correlated with the tar content of mainstream cigarette smoke (6). Most of the evidence indicates that TSNA in cigarette smoke arise by transfer from TSNA in cigarettes and that lowering TSNA levels in cigarettes would reduce the exposure of smokers to TSNA (4,(7)(8)(9).…”