HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hughes, J R Articles by Callas, P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hughes, J R Articles by Callas, P

Smoking behaviour and toxin exposure during six weeks use of a potential reduced exposure product: Omni

¹ University of Vermont, Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Family Practice, Burlington, Vermont, USA
² University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
³ University of Vermont, Biometry Facility, Burlington, Vermont, USA

Correspondence to:
John R Hughes MD
University of Vermont, Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Family Practice, 38 Fletcher Place, Burlington, VT 05401-1419, USA; john.hughes{at}uvm.edu

Objective: To determine smoking behaviour, acceptability, and toxin exposure when smokers switch to the potential reduced exposure product—Omni cigarette.

Design: 12 week randomised, crossover study of Omni versus own cigarettes.

Participants: 19 light/ultralight and 15 regular smokers.

Outcomes: Cigarettes/day, smoking topography, craving, withdrawal symptoms, urinary cotinine plus its glucuronide (total cotinine), nicotine plus its glucuronide (total nicotine), and carcinogen metabolites (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol plus its glucuronides and 1-hydroxypyrene).

Results: When switched to Omni, smokers smoked the same number of cigarettes/day, smoked Omni cigarettes less intensely (total puff volume = –11%) and had slightly lower total cotinine (–18%) levels than their own cigarettes, but had a slightly greater carbon monoxide boost/cig (+21%). Craving and withdrawal ratings were similar with Omni and own cigarettes. Carcinogen metabolite levels were somewhat but not significantly lower with Omni. About half of smokers rated Omni as better for their health and about two thirds stated it was weaker and worse tasting than their own cigarettes.

Conclusions: Although Omni may be an adequate behavioural and pharmacological substitute for traditional cigarettes, it may not decrease carcinogen exposure and may increase carbon monoxide. Replications with larger sample sizes and longer follow up are needed. These results indicate the need for regulation of reduced exposure and reduced risk claims.

Abbreviations: CO, carbon monoxide; 1-HOP, 1-hydroxypyrene; IVR, interactive voice recording; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PREP, potential reduced exposure product; NIH, National Institutes of Health; NNAL, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronides; TSNA, tobacco specific nitrosamines

Keywords: carcinogens; harm reduction; nicotine; Omni; risk reduction; potential reduced exposure product

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. F. Pankow, K. H. Watanabe, P. L. Toccalino, W. Luo, and D. F. Austin Calculated Cancer Risks for Conventional and "Potentially Reduced Exposure Product" Cigarettes Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2007; 16(3): 584 - 592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Hammond, G. T. Fong, K. M. Cummings, and A. Hyland Smoking Topography, Brand Switching, and Nicotine Delivery: Results from an In vivo Study Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., June 1, 2005; 14(6): 1370 - 1375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]