Analysis on the Content of Nitrosamine and Cadmium in the Mainstream Smoke of Domestic Flue-cured Tobacco Cigarettes

Objectives To detect two kinds of tobacco specific the nitrosamine and cadmium contents in the mainstream smoke of 15 domestic brands of flue-cured tobacco cigarettes, and to analyze their correlation with the box labeling tar content.

Methods 15 domestic brands of low or medium-tar flue-cured tobacco cigarettes were chosen randomly from a tobacco store in Beijing. The smoking process was simulated by a smoking machine, and the total particulate matter in the mainstream smoke was collected. Contents of tobacco-specific nitrosamine in the mainstream smoke were detected by LC-MS/MS, and content of cadmium was detected by atomic absorption method. The correlation between these two types of harmful substances and the box labeling tar content was analyzed by t-test and Linear Regression Model.

Results In the selected cigarette samples, contents of NNN and NNK in the mainstream smoke showed no significant difference between the low-tar (≤ 10 mg/cig) and the medium-tar (11~15 mg/cig) cigarette groups (P>0.05), and there was no significant correlation between the nominal value of tar and the content of NNN and NNK in the low-tar group (P>0.05). Although the content of Cd in the medium-tar group was significantly higher than that in the low-tar group (P < 0.01), there was no significant correlation between Cd content and the tar nominal value in the regression analysis of the low-tar group (P>0.05).

Conclusions Lower tar content of flue-cured cigarettes does not present lower release of NNN, NNK or Cd in the main stream smoke. "Reduce harm via reduction of tar" lacks scientific theory support.