Effect of Sugar Content on Acetaldehyde Yield in Cigarette Smoke

Abstract

The relationship between cigarette blend sugar and acetaldehyde formed in its smoke is a matter of current regulatory interest. This paper provides a re-analysis of data from 83 European commercial cigarettes studied in the 1970s and more modern data on sugar levels and acetaldehyde yields from a series of 97 European commercial cigarettes containing both inherent sugar and in other cases inherent and added sugar. It also provides data from 65 experimental cigarette products made from single curing grades of tobacco, having a wide range of inherent sugar levels but no added sugar.This study has shown that there is no relationship between acetaldehyde yields and blend sugar content even if a multivariate analysis is carried out taking into account Nicotine Free Dry Particulate Matter (NFDPM) as a co-factor. Such analyses should take into consideration each of the known contributory factors in order to avoid misleading conclusions.No distinction was found between the mainstream acetaldehyde yields from dark air-cured, flue-cured or US blended style cigarettes irrespective of their sugar content after taking account of differences in NFDPM yields. Similarly, no distinction was found between mainstream acetaldehyde yields of cigarettes made from single grades of either flue-cured, sun-cured or air-cured tobaccos with no sugar added.This work supports the conclusion that structural material in the tobacco plant is the main source of acetaldehyde in mainstream smoke after combustion during cigarette smoking.

Influence of Additives on Cigarette Related Health Risks

“…The results of this study were confirmed by laboratories of the cigarette industry (177,178). In a recent study, CAHOURS et al (179,180) did not see a correlation between the sugar content of cigarette tobacco and the acetaldehyde level in mainstream smoke. This had also been pointed out by BAKER in 2007 (181).…”

“…They had concluded that sugars in tobacco blends accounted for an additional 11% variance in aldehydes. However, CA-HOURS et al (180) argued that the multivariate analysis approach used by O'CONNOR and HURLEY was incomplete and had generated misleading conclusions. Furthermore, CAHOURS et al (180) recognized no difference between the mainstream smoke acetaldehyde yields of cigarettes with American blends, dark air cured or flue cured tobaccos, irrespective of their sugar content when NFDPM yields were taken into account.…”

“…However, CA-HOURS et al (180) argued that the multivariate analysis approach used by O'CONNOR and HURLEY was incomplete and had generated misleading conclusions. Furthermore, CAHOURS et al (180) recognized no difference between the mainstream smoke acetaldehyde yields of cigarettes with American blends, dark air cured or flue cured tobaccos, irrespective of their sugar content when NFDPM yields were taken into account. Nor were differences seen in the mainstream smoke acetaldehyde yields of the 65 experimental cigarettes made from single grades of either flue cured Virginia, sun cured or air cured tobaccosall with no sugar added.…”

“…Similarly, scientific data concerning these effects of sugars when used as tobacco additives, published in a number of peer reviewed journals, did not support the conclusions and assertions of TALHOUT et al BAKER stated with respect to his own studies: "I believe that our conclusions are valid ones and that there is a wealth of solid evidence to substantiate them, obtained by a variety of studies over many years." Recently, CAHOURS et al (179,180) performed a reanalysis of the data on sugars in tobacco and cigarette mainstream smoke acetaldehyde yields from the 83 European commercial cigarette brands studied in the 1970s by PHILLPOTS et al (162) and more recent industry data for a range of 97 European commercial cigarettes (analyzed in 2001-2010) containing natural sugars or inherent plus added sugars. These cigarettes included brands made from American blends, Virginia tobaccos and dark air cured tobaccos.…”

Aldehyde and Volatile Organic Compound Yields in Commercial Cigarette Mainstream Smoke Are Mutually Related and Depend on the Sugar and Humectant Content in Tobacco

“… 8–10 Drying (curing) of the leaf can affect these contents; while air-cured tobacco contains virtually no sugars, flue-cured tobacco may contain concentrations up to 25% of its weight. 11 , 12 Different types of sugars and sugar-containing ingredients, such as honey and fruit syrups, are added during manufacturing as binder, casing ingredient, flavor, formulation aid, or humectant. 10 , 11 , 13 Combustion and pyrolysis processes of sugars, such as caramelization, produce many different chemical compounds, including aldehydes, furan derivatives, VOCs, organic acids, acrylamide, and PAHs.…”