A comprehensive evaluation of the toxicology of different cut widths of tobacco in experimental cigarettes.

AbstractContext: Literature suggests that the width of tobacco strips in cigarettes may affect the smoke chemistry and toxicology of such products.Objective: A comprehensive analysis of smoke from experimental cigarettes can be used to determine whether different cut widths of tobacco result in different toxicological activity.Materials and methods: A battery of tests was used to compare the chemistry and in vitro and in vivo toxicology of smoke from experimental cigarettes made with tobacco cut to different widths.Results: Different cut widths of tobacco did not elicit consistent and significant differences in cigarette smoke chemistry, responses in in vitro mutagenicity or cytotoxicity assays or most endpoints in 90-d rat inhalation studies. Of note, however, were atypical in-life observations and slightly depressed body weights observed in two rat inhalation studies.Conclusion: Most of our data indicate that different cut widths of tobacco used in cigarettes are unlikely to change the toxicity of mains...