The selenium content of some American tobaccos and cigarettes was determined. The quantities of added selenium that were transferred from cigarettes to inhaled, mainstream smoke were examined for several commercial and experimental cigarettes of different tar levels. For high-tar cigarettes, as much as 10% of added selenium was found in mainstream smoke, while low-tar cigarettes delivered about 3% of added selenium. Transfer rates of selenium to mainstream smoke are reported for various levels of fortification (0-25 micrograms/cigarette) and the rationale for selenium fortification is discussed. Based on highly favorable reports in the literature on the antitumor activity of selenium, the fortification of tobacco with selenium may become a viable way of producing a safer tobacco product. It is proposed that such selenium-fortified smoking products be developed and evaluated extensively.

Agriculture↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The contribution of low tar cigarettes to environmental tobacco smoke.

A series of low tar cigarettes (LTC) were smoked and the quantities of condensable mainstream (inhaled) and sidestream (between puffs) smoke compounds were determined and compared to those produced by a high tar, nonfilter cigarette. It was found that the LTC produced large quantities of sidestream smoke condensates, about equal to the high tar cigarette, and contained very high levels of toxic or cocarcinogenic phenols. On an equal weight basis, the LTC emitted more of these hazardous compounds into sidestream and environmental tobacco smoke. Higher smoke yields of a flavor additive and a sugar degradation product indicated addition of such compounds during the manufacture of LTC. It was concluded that, compared to a high tar cigarette, smoking LTC may be better for the smoker, but not for the nearby nonsmoker. Information should be developed to allow smokers to choose LTC that produce lower levels of hazardous compounds in their environmentally emitted sidestream smoke.

Chromatography, Gas↗