On the Chemistry of Cigar Smoke: Comparisons between Experimental Little and Large Cigars

Comparative data have been presented and evaluated on levels of various constituents in five different cigar tobaccos and in the smoke they generate when made into little and Iarge cigars. Generally the large cigars deliver a significantly lower level of mainstream smoke particulates such as TPM, nicotine and benzo[a]pyrene, when compared to the little cigars. On a per cigar basis, however, large cigars (as opposed to Iittle cigars) deliver substantially higher levels of CO and other gas phase constituents. A higher delivery of ammonia by large cigars is noted in the sidestream smoke. When little cigars are wrapped in cigarette paper, the major effects are lower levels of CO (reduced by 50 %). Cigar smoke can be distinguished from cigarette smoke on the basis of pH characteristics, ammonia and CO levels. Future studies should be concerned with establishing the material balance for components in mainstream and sidestream smoke of Iittle cigars and large cigars.