BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoke from 2R1 research brand cigarettes and specific toxicants in smoke inhibit oviductal functioning. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that smoke from commercial cigarettes, including harm reduction cigarettes, inhibits oviductal functioning and to measure the concentration of previously identified toxicants in smoke from research and commercial cigarettes.

METHODS

Mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) smoke solutions from two research, six traditional commercial and three harm reduction brands were tested in vitro using an oviductal assay that measures ciliary beat frequency, oocyte retrieval rate and smooth muscle contraction.

RESULTS

Generally, smoke from each brand of cigarette was inhibitory in the three oviductal bioassays. SS, the major component of environmental tobacco smoke, was usually more inhibitory than MS, the smoke inhaled by active smokers. Nine cigarette toxicants, previously shown to be highly inhibitory in the oviductal bioassays, were quantified in MS and SS. 4 Methylpyridine, which was inhibitory by itself in picomolar doses, was present in the highest concentration in MS and SS solutions from all brands tested. In general, toxicant concentrations were higher in SS than in MS solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that commercial brands of cigarettes, including harm reduction cigarettes, contain toxicants that inhibit biological processes in the oviduct and could affect reproductive outcomes.

Brand group opposes government’s plain packaging for cigarettes plan – brand republic news

Packets of ten cigarettes and menthol flavours banned under new eu rules

John Noble, director of BBG, claimed plain packaging was “bad news for consumers and markets”.

He said “Were products to be in plain packaging, essentially markets would be made generic, which means everybody would be competing on price. There would be no incentives for companies to invest in quality and there is also a risk that it might actually increase illicit trade.”

Calling into question Lansley’s claim that “the evidence is clear packaging helps to recruit smokers”, Noble said as far as he was aware, there was no research in the tobacco sector about the extent to which packaging “actually fulfils that function”.

BBG declined to name individual companies within its 24 strong membership, but Noble admitted they include two tobacco companies.

The previous government also considered enforcing plain packaging on tobacco products in a Bill that began going through Parliament two years ago, but that plan was dropped.

Alan Johnson, the health secretary at the time, said “There is no evidence base it actually reduces the number of young people smoking.”

Tobacco companies have come out against Lansley’s plan, with British American Tobacco (Bat) calling it “Christmas for counterfeiters”, and also claiming there was a lack of evidence that plain packaging worked to reduce consumption.

Bat manufactures Royals, Dunhill and Lucky Strike brands.

An ISBA spokesman declined to comment on the plain packaging issue, saying it was not within its remit.

This article was first published on