Abstract
Rationale
Smokers modify their smoking behaviour when switching from their usual product to higher or lower tar and nicotine-yield cigarettes.
Objective
The aims of the current study were to assess the influence of varying nicotine yields at constant tar yield on human puffing measures, nicotine deliveries under human smoking conditions and the sensory response to mainstream cigarette smoke. These assessments would allow an evaluation of the degree of compensation and the various possible causes of changes, if any.
Methods
The participants were 13 regular smokers of commercial or hand-rolled cigarettes. They were tested with four cigarettes, which exhibited a wide range of nicotine to 'tar' ratios at a relatively constant 'tar' yield. Their smoking behaviour was monitored by placing the test cigarettes into an orifice-type holder/flowmeter attached to a custom-built smoker behaviour analyser. In addition, a comprehensive sensory evaluation of the products was carried out.
Results
The differences in the nicotine to tar ratios of the samples did not significantly influence the puffing behaviour patterns, i.e. puff number and interval, total and average puff volume, integrated pressure and puff duration. Additionally the pre- to post-exhaled CO boosts were not significantly influenced by the experimental samples used in the study. However, the nicotine yields obtained by the smokers were significantly influenced by the machine-smoked nicotine yields or the nicotine to tar ratios of the samples. The machine-smoked nicotine yields were highly correlated with the nicotine yields obtained under human smoking conditions. For the sensory evaluation, there was only a significant difference between the samples in the intensity of the impact.
Conclusion
These observations imply that these puffing variables are not controlled by the nicotine yield of the cigarette.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armitage AK, Alexander J, Hopkins R, Ward C (1988) Evaluation of a low to middle 'tar'/medium nicotine cigarette designed to maintain nicotine delivery to the smoker. Psychopharmacology 96:447–453
Baldinger B, Hasenfratz M, Battig K (1995) Switching to ultralow nicotine cigarettes: effects of different tar yields and blocking of olfactory cues. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 50:233–239
Bates C, McNeil A, Jarvis M, Gray N (1999) The future of tobacco product regulation and labelling in Europe: implication for the forthcoming European Union Directive. Tob Control 8:225–235
Boushey HA, Richardson PS, Widdicombe JG, Wise JCM (1974) The response of laryngeal afferent fibres to mechanical and chemical stimuli. J Physiol 240:153–175
Buzzi R, Nil R, Bättig K (1985) Development of puffing behaviour along burning time of a cigarette—no relation to alveolar inhalation or nicotine delivery of the cigarettes? Psychopharmacology 86:102–107
Creighton DE, Lewis PH (1978) The effect of different cigarettes on human smoking patterns. In: Thornton RE (ed) Smoking behaviour: physiological and psychological influences. Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 277–288
Creighton DE, Noble MJ, Whewell RT (1978) Instruments to measure, record and duplicate human smoking patterns. In: Thornton RE (ed) Smoking behaviour: physiological and psychological influences. Churchill-Livingstone, New York, pp 289–301
Dixon M, Richardson P, Stransky A, Szereda-Przestaszewska M, Widdicombe JG (1974) Changes in laryngeal calibre due to inhalation of dust. Revue de L'Institut d'Hygiène des Mines 29:55–58
Dixon M, Reeves N, Saunders P, Shepperd CJ (1998) Sensory-induced changes in puffing behaviour. Proceedings of the CORESTA Smoke and Technology Groups joint meeting. Brighton, England, pp 39–51
Dunn PJ, Freiesleben ER (1978) The effects of nicotine-enhanced cigarettes on human smoking parameters and alveolar carbon monoxide levels. In: Thornton RE (ed) Smoking behaviour: physiological and psychological influences. Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 195–202
Fairweather FA (1989) The possible role of factors other than nicotine in compensatory smoking. In: Wald N, Froggatt P (eds) Nicotine and the low tar programme. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 212–219
Goldfarb TL, Jarvik ME, Glick SD (1970) Cigarette nicotine content as a determinant of human smoking behaviour. Psychopharmacologia 17:89–93
Gordin HH, Perfetti TA, Mangan PP (1987) A quantification of sensory responses related to dynamic cigarette performance variables. Tob Sci 31:23–27
Gust SW, Pickens RW (1982) Does cigarette nicotine yield affect puff volume? Clin Pharmacol Ther 32:418–422
Hasenfratz M, Baldinger B, Bättig K (1993) Nicotine or tar titration in cigarette smoking behaviour? Psychopharmacology 112:253–258
Herning RI, Jones RT, Benowitz N, Mines AH (1981) Puff volume increases when low nicotine cigarettes are smoked. BMJ 283:187–189
Institute of Medicine (2001) Clearing the smoke: assessing the science base for tobacco harm. National Academies Press, Washington
ISCSH (1988) Fourth report of the Independent Scientific Committee on smoking and health. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London
Jacob P, Byrd GD (1999) Use of gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques for the determination of nicotine and its metabolites. In: Gorrod JW, Jacob P (eds) Analytical determination of nicotine and related compounds and their metabolites. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 191–224
Kochhar N, Warburton DM (1990) Puff-by-puff sensory evaluation of a low to middle tar, medium nicotine cigarette designed to maintain nicotine delivery to the smoker. Psychopharmacology 102:343–349
Kozlowski LT, O'Connor RJ, Sweeney CT (2001) Cigarette design. In: 2001 smoking and tobacco control, monograph 13. Risks associated with smoking cigarettes with low machine-measured yields of tar and nicotine. USDHHS National Institutes of Health, Washington, pp 13–37
Pankow JF (2001) A consideration of the role of gas/particle partitioning in the deposition of nicotine and other tobacco smoke compounds in the respiratory tract. Chem Res Toxicol 14:1465–1481
Pickworth WB, Fant RV, Nelson RA, Rohrer MS, Henningfield JE (1999) Pharmacodynamic effects of new de-nicotinized cigarettes. Nicotine Tob Res 1:357–364
Pritchard WS, Robinson J, Guy TD, Davis RA, Stiles MF (1996) Assessing the sensory role of nicotine in cigarette smoking. Psychopharmacology 127:55–62
Rawbone RG, Murphy K, Tate ME, Kane SJ (1978) The analysis of smoking parameters: inhalation and absorption of tobacco smoke in studies of human smoking behaviour. In: Thornton RE (ed) Smoking behaviour: physiological and psychological influences. Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 171–194
Robinson JH, Pritchard WS, Davis RA (1992) Psychopharmacological effects of smoking a cigarette with typical 'tar' and carbon monoxide yields but minimal nicotine. Psychopharmacology 108:466–472
Rodenstein DO, Stanescu DC (1985) Pattern of inhalation of tobacco smoke in pipe, cigarette, and never smokers. Am Rev Respir Dis 132:628–632
Rose J, Westman E, Behn F, Johnson M, Goldberg J (1998) Blockade of smoking satisfaction using the peripheral nicotinic antagonist trimethaphan. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 62:165–172
Rose JE, Behm FM, Westman EC, Coleman RE (1999) Arterial nicotine kinetics during cigarette smoking and intravenous nicotine administration: implications for addiction. Drug Alcohol Depend 56:99–107
Royal College of Physicians (2000) Nicotine addiction in Britain. A report of the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians. London
Russell MAH (1976) Low tar, medium nicotine cigarettes: a new approach to safer smoking. BMJ 1:1430–1433
Scherer G (1999) Smoking behaviour and compensation: a review of the literature. Psychopharmacology 145:1–20
Shiffman S, Pillitteri JL, Burton SL, Rohay JM, Gitchell JG (2001) Smokers' beliefs about 'light' and 'ultra light' cigarettes. Tob Control 10[Suppl 1]: i17–i23
Stephen A, Frost C, Thompson S, Wald N (1989) Estimating the extent of compensatory smoking. In: Wald N, Froggatt P (eds) Nicotine and the low tar programme. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 100–115
Stepney R (1981) Would a medium nicotine, low tar cigarette be less hazardous to health ? BMJ 283:1292–1303
Sutton SR, Russell MAH, Iyer R, Feyerabend C, Saloojee Y (1982) Relationship between cigarette yields, puffing patterns and smoke intake: evidence for tar compensation ? BMJ 285:600–603
US Department of Health and Human Services (1981) The health consequences of smoking. The changing cigarette: a report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington
US Department of Health and Human Services (1984) The health consequences of smoking—chronic obstructive lung disease. Report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington
Warburton DM (1985) Nicotine and the smoker. Rev Environ Health 5:343–390
Zacny JP, Stitzer ML, Brown FJ, Yingling JE, Griffiths RR (1987) Human cigarette smoking: effects of puff and inhalation parameters on smoke exposure. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 240:554–564
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dixon, M., Kochhar, N., Prasad, K. et al. The influence of changing nicotine to tar ratios on human puffing behaviour and perceived sensory response. Psychopharmacology 170, 434–442 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1541-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1541-8