Although the legislation contemplates the maximum levels allowed in the concentrations of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide of cigarettes, these contain many otherstoxic compounds whose presence is not regulated, according to a study developed by scientists from the University of Alicante.
Researchers have analyzed a total of 85 types of tar and 35 gases present or released when smoking cigarettes from different tobacco brands. Some of them, such as isoprene, crotonaldehyde and toluene, are highly harmful and carcinogenic.
To carry out the analyzes, the cigarettes were aspirated in a “smoking machine” and the composition of the smoke was measured in its solid and gaseous fractions. Researchers have preferred not to reveal the data that correspond to each brand so they have identified them with letters from A to J. The results indicate thattoxicity is highly variable between brandsand that, in general, cigarettes that generate fewer gaseous compounds have more tars, and vice versa.
Regarding regulated substances, when comparing with other studies it has been found that the level of carbon monoxide in Spanish cigarettes is “medium-high” compared to the rest, and even one of the brands slightly exceeded the value established by the legislation. The researchers recommend, however, taking the results with caution. “The data must be compared with those of other laboratories“, María Isabel Beltrán, one of the researchers, explained to SINC.” Although we do the experiments with 200 cigarettes, sometimes the data can vary depending on the batch of packs or the environmental conditions, “she added.
The authors of the work, which is published in the journalFood and Chemical ToxicologyThey have also developed various catalysts that reduce carbon monoxide and nicotine emissions. As they explain, the taste of tobacco is hardly affected and some companies have already shown interest in them.
