Was surfing around for something else and came across this, found it interesting esp the portions about the TCA. Posted below are the more relevant bits:
Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting October 29-30, 2009
Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting October 29-30, 2009
tobacco and Smoking Addiction Laboratory (TSAL)
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Dr. David Ashley, Chief of the Emergency Response and Air Toxicants Branch in DLS, reported that TSAL has focused on
tobacco exposure biomarkers since 1984 and tobacco products since 1994. TSAL performs
laboratory experiments with seven smoking machines that can smoke 1-20 cigarettes at one
time. TSAL uses the smoking machines to collect and analyze particulate matter and gas
phase samples in order to determine the role of the design of tobacco products in producing
toxins and addictive compounds.
TSAL is the only laboratory that measures addictive and toxic chemicals in tobacco products, in
emissions, as biomarkers and the topography of tobacco use. In its unique role, TSAL analyzes
tobacco emissions, the use of tobacco products, biomarkers in serum, blood, urine and saliva,
and biomarkers of effect.
TSALs research has shown that cigarettes are highly engineered delivery devices and contain
a complex mix of components. The tobacco industry has engineered cigarettes to ensure that
measurements of tar and nicotine in mainstream cigarette smoke result in low determined
levels, but current standard measurement techniques do not show actual exposures of toxic
chemicals to smokers.
There are approximately 1,500 different brand variants marketed in the United States. A normal blend cigarette in the United States contains different types of tobacco, including 30%-40% from
bright tobacco, 20%-30% from burley tobacco, 2%-10% from stems, 10%-15% from oriental
tobacco, and 5%-15% from reconstituted tobacco. Reconstituted tobacco is made from tobacco
dust, diammonium phosphate and other chemicals. It is formulated in ways that promote the
addictive characteristics of the product. TSALs research has shown that the design of tobacco
products is modified to increase the levels of the form of nicotine known as free nicotine, which
is more addictive than ionized nicotine, in a similar way that crack ....... is more addictive
than ........
Tobacco companies have developed a number of modified risk products and
smokeless tobacco products to ensure that health conscious smokers continue to smoke.
TSAL conducted a study that showed free nicotine in U.S. smokeless tobacco brands ranges
from low concentrations in the low pH starter brands for youth to brands with much higher free
nicotine concentrations in the higher pH brands with levels intended to maintain addiction over
time. TSALs investigation showed that the free nicotine concentrations of Skoal Bandits
changed from a starter brand to one which had much higher free nicotine concentrations
between August 2004 and December 2006 with no notification to users or submission of reports
to FDA.
TSAL conducted a study by collecting cigarette butts to determine certain factors (i.e., stress or
job activities) that influence smoke intake from individual cigarettes. Findings from the study will
assist TSAL in developing more effective smoking cessation measures. In addition to addiction,
TSAL also conducts research on toxicity from tobacco. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)
are known carcinogens that are formed from nicotine and other alkaloids in tobacco.
TSAL conducted a study that showed both smokers and non-smokers are exposed to
carcinogenic TSNAs. TSAL demonstrated wide variation in the levels of carcinogenic TSNAs in
cigarettes in countries around the world. Other studies further showed a direct association
between carcinogenic TSNAs and levels in smokers. Studies by other researchers demonstrated an association between concentrations of NNAL in urine, a biomarker of TSNA
exposure, and lung cancer. Because of the way U.S. cigarettes are designed, American
smokers have higher urinary concentrations of NNAL. The design of American cigarettes may
be leading to increased lung cancer in the United States.
The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act became effective in June 2009
and gave FDA regulatory authority over all tobacco products. Under this legislation, FDA will
receive reports on ingredients of tobacco products, receive and evaluate health information,
develop product standards, evaluate new tobacco products, assess modified risk products,
and design new warning labels. The legislation also might provide FDA with regulatory authority
to restrict promotion and advertising.
TSALs role in the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act will be to develop
and evaluate testing methods and product standards; utilize surveillance to evaluate the impact
of tobacco product regulation; provide oversight of product testing quality assurance; and create
measures that can be used to assess modified risk products and new products to achieve
reduced emission levels, substantial reductions in exposure and a decline in biomarkers of long-
term disease
