05 october 2021 – 07:29 am
Smoking machines used to assess cigarettes significantly underestimate exposure to harmful substances. As a result, smokers are exposed to much higher amounts of harmful substances than measured. That is what PhD candidate Charlotte Pauwels states in her thesis Smoking topography and the assessment of exposure to cigarette smoke compounds, for which she is currently completing her PhD at Maastricht University.
Harmful substances
By comparing smokers’ exposure to harmful substances with the results of measurements with smoking machines, Charlotte Pauwels wants to contribute to scientifically substantiated regulations for tobacco. Her research took into account the daily use of cigarettes by smokers and the way in which they smoke a cigarette. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals – many in amounts that can be harmful to health – but only tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide have been legally regulated so far.
The research shows that the smoking methods used in smoke machines in particular underestimate the smoker’s exposure to harmful substances. For regular cigarettes, the exposure is two to three times higher than what is measured. For filter cigarettes with a high degree of filter ventilation through ventilation holes, the so-called light or mild cigarettes, this is even more. The reason for this is that the draw volumes are too low in the legally prescribed method. The number of puffs the smoke machine takes is also lower than that of smokers. This is apparent from studies conducted with smoking volunteers. This has shown that every smoker has his own smoking profile.
In her PhD research, Charlotte Pauwels also makes a number of recommendations regarding the methods used in testing with smoke machines. One of the recommendations is to adjust the number of puffs to three instead of one or two puffs per minute, to make the method more similar to human smoking behavior. She also indicates that more than one test method is desirable. This makes it more difficult for manufacturers to match their product to the test method, reducing the chance that the amount of harmful substances is underestimated. In addition, Pauwels proposes to half cover filters with a holder when testing in a fog machine. In this way, the blocking of ventilation holes through the lips or fingers of smokers is simulated.
Test method smoke machines
The thesis Smoking topography and the assessment of exposure to cigarette smoke compounds van Charlotte Pauwels was created in collaboration with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Risk Assessment & Research Office (BuRO) of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. BuRO was also the client and financed the research.
Source: Maastricht University
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Editorial Medicalfacts/ Janine Budding
I studied Physiotherapy and Health Care Business Administration. I have a lot of experience in various positions in the medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. And have broad medical knowledge of most specialties in healthcare. I attend most of the leading medical conferences in Europe and America every year to keep my knowledge up-to-date and to keep up with the latest developments and innovations
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