Elsevier

Addictive Behaviors

Volume 32, Issue 4, April 2007, Pages 869-874
Addictive Behaviors

Short Communication
Comparing smoking behaviors and exposures from flavored and unflavored cigarettes

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.06.009Get rights and content

Abstract

Cigarettes with flavors such as mocha and citrus have been introduced in growing numbers. Besides their potential marketing appeal to nonsmokers, there is concern that flavors might mask smoke harshness, making inhalation easier. This pilot study evaluates differences in puff topography and cigarette ratings among 20 college student smokers smoking Camel Light (10 mg Tar, 0.9 mg nicotine, 35% filter ventilation) and Camel Exotic Blend cigarettes (11 mg Tar, 0.9 mg nicotine, 23% filter ventilation). Carbon monoxide boost was measured by assessing alveolar carbon monoxide (CO) levels before and after smoking each cigarette. Participants also rated each cigarette on characteristics such as strength, irritation, and taste. We found that participants took smaller puffs on the Exotic Blend versus Camel Light (42 mL vs. 48 mL, p < 0.001), but there was no reliable difference in total smoke volume (613.9 mL vs. 630.7 mL, p = 0.79) or CO boost (6.2 ppm vs. 6.2 ppm, p = 0.90). Exotic Blend cigarettes were rated as more different from the participant's usual brand, but otherwise the taste ratings did not differ. Overall, these preliminary data suggest that adding flavors to cigarettes may not significantly impact how they are smoked by current smokers.

Introduction

In 2002, RJ Reynolds (RJR) introduced Camel Exotic Blends featuring flavors such as citrus, piña colada, and bourbon (Carpenter, Wayne, Pauly, Koh, & Connolly, 2005). Connolly (2004) expressed concern that flavored cigarettes might attract nonsmokers, particularly youth, to begin smoking. This concern was fueled by internal industry documents discussing flavoring cigarettes as a way to appeal to novice smokers (Carpenter et al., 2005, Cummings et al., 2002). Giovino, Yang, and Tworek (2005) reported that in 2004, 20% of smokers aged 17 to 19 had smoked flavored cigarettes in the past month, compared with 6% of smokers over age 25. In response to pressures from lawmakers, RJR ceased advertising its flavored Camels, although they are still being sold in stores and advertised on the Internet (Associated Press, 2005).

Wayne and Connolly (2002) have shown how RJR altered Camel cigarettes over time to reduce their perceived harshness so as to gain young adult market share. We hypothesized that adding flavors to Camel cigarettes could have the effect of masking the harshness of cigarette smoke, making inhalation easier, thereby increasing exposure to smoke toxins. Research suggests that menthol flavoring, for example, allows for deeper inhalation, likely due to its cooling effects in the respiratory tract (e.g., Ahijevych & Garrett, 2004). This pilot study was designed to explore differences in puff topography and cigarette ratings between flavored and unflavored Camels among college student smokers. Specifically, we tested whether smokers would take larger, longer puffs on the flavored products, thereby inhaling more carbon monoxide, and whether they would rate flavored cigarettes as less strong or harsh compared to their unflavored counterpart.

Section snippets

Participants

Twenty cigarette smokers (10 male) were recruited from the University at Buffalo. Eligibility criteria were being between 18 and 30 years old, having smoked at least 100 lifetime cigarettes, currently smoking a nonmenthol brand for at least 6 months, and not trying to quit. Participants smoked an average of 11.5 cigarettes per day (S.D. = 9.0). Participants' usual brands were Marlboro Lights (n = 7), Camel Lights (n = 5), Parliament Lights (n = 4), Marlboro Full Flavor (n = 3), and Old Gold Filter (n = 1).

Materials

Flavor choice

Of the seven Exotic Blends offered, Twist (a citrus flavor) was most popular (35%, n = 7), followed by Dark Mint (n = 4), Warm Winter Toffee (n = 3), Izmir Stinger (n = 3), Mandarin Mint (n = 2), and Crema (n = 1). No significant differences in outcome measures were noted between Twist and the other flavored varieties (p values > .50). We also saw no gender difference in flavor choice.

Exposure and smoking topography2

Table 1 summarizes data on CO boost and smoking topography. We found no evidence of difference in CO exposure by variety, nor

Discussion

Overall, smokers took slightly smaller puffs on the flavored product, but showed no difference in total smoke intake or CO exposure. Analysis of subjective ratings suggested that smokers did not detect an appreciable difference in harshness or irritation between the two cigarettes – the two showed significant differences only on airway strength and similarity to own brand. The slight differences observed in puff topography and strength between Camel Light and Exotic blend cigarettes (i.e.,

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