The Effect of Design Parameters on Yields of 33 Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) in Mainstream Smoke of Large Cigars

Abstract The effect of large cigar (LC) design parameters on the mainstream smoke yields of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) is relatively unstudied. Available chemical analysis research on LCs has focused on tar and a limited number of HPHCs (e.g., nicotine, carbon monoxide, benzo[a]pyrene, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and acrolein), while many smoke HPHCs have been largely overlooked. Recently, Cheng et al. reported the smoke yields of 33 less commonly studied HPHCs in 10 LC brands generated by the Canadian Intense smoking regimen (55 mL puff volume, 30 s puff frequency, 2 s puff duration, 100% vent block, if applicable). In this study, we compared their previously reported HPHC yields to cigar design parameters (weight, length, circumference, pressure drop, and calculated density and volume) using simple linear regression to determine if any correlations exist that may support future in-depth study. The impact of each design parameter on individual HPHC yields was evaluated using the slopes and correlation coefficients (r2) of the linear regression lines, with P values indicating the significance of the slope. Cigar weight and calculated volume were positively associated with the yields of tobacco alkaloids (anabasine, nornicotine), carbonyls (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, propionaldehyde), and some volatile and semivolatile (VSV) organic compounds (ethylbenzene, styrene, 2,3-benzofuran, furan), while also being negatively associated with polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) yields. Cigar length was also positively associated with tobacco alkaloids, carbonyls, and VSVs, but did not influence PAH yields. Like weight and volume, higher cigar circumference was associated with lower PAH and heterocyclic aromatic amine yields, but it only had a weaker positive association with tobacco alkaloids, carbonyls, and VSVs. Calculated density and pressure drop were not associated with any consistent or meaningful differences in HPHC yields. These preliminary and rudimentary results suggest that simple design parameters influence HPHC yields in large cigars in a predictable manner. Having a better understanding of how parameters influence HPHC yields can inform evaluations of the public health impact of large cigars and public communications about their health risks.