Elsevier

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 56, Issue 3, September 1994, Pages 563-570
Physiology & Behavior

Article
Mentholated cigarettes decrease puff volume of smoke and increase carbon monoxide absorption

https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(94)90302-6Get rights and content

Abstract

The influence of mentholated vs. regular cigarettes on selected chemical and topographic parameters was measured in 20 smokers in a pulmonary function laboratory. Half the subjects were black and half were white; half were menthol and half regular smokers. All subjects smoked both types of cigarettes, one on each of 2 days. Compared to regular cigarettes, mentholated cigarettes produced a significantly greater boost in carbon monoxide measured as both blood carboxyhemoglobin and end-expired carbon monoxide, despite the fact that mentholated cigarettes decreased average and total cumulative puff volumes and increased mean puff flow rates of inhaled smoke. These chemical and topographic differences were independent of race. No significant differences in depth of inhalation of the smoke or in the amount of insoluble smoke particulates delivered to or retained in the respiratory tract were noted between the two types of cigarettes. Mentholation of cigarettes may decrease volume of smoke inhaled but appears to increase exposure of smokers to toxic effects of carbon monoxide.

References (28)

  • Federal Trade Commission Report

  • B.G. Green

    The sensory effects of 1-menthol on human skin

    Somatosens. Mot. Res.

    (1992)
  • W. Hinds et al.

    A method for measuring respiratory deposition of cigarette smoke during smoking

    Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

    (1983)
  • J.D. Killen et al.

    Prospective study of factors influencing the development of craving associated with smoking sessation

    Psychopharmacology (Berlin)

    (1991)
  • Cited by (80)

    • Differences between adult sexual minority females and heterosexual females on menthol smoking and other smoking behaviors: Findings from Wave 4 (2016–2018) of the population assessment of tobacco and health study

      2022, Addictive Behaviors
      Citation Excerpt :

      Furthermore, there were no differences in cigarette dependence. The fact that sexual minority females had similar levels of cigarette dependence, even though they were more likely to be menthol smokers and smoked fewer cigarettes per day, further underscores the notion that menthol may be linked to greater nicotine ingestion (Hymowitz, Mouton, & Edkholdt, 1995; Jarvik, Tashkin, Caskey, McCarthy, & Rosenblatt, 1994; Wickham, 2015). Sexual minority females may smoke their cigarettes more intensely or for longer periods of time than heterosexual females.

    • Racial disparities in intensity of smoke exposure and nicotine intake among low-dependence smokers

      2021, Drug and Alcohol Dependence
      Citation Excerpt :

      Meanwhile, the established high prevalence of menthol cigarette smokers in Black relative to white smokers–-which was also observed in our sample—has led to speculation that menthol increases the risk of smoking-related disease in Black smokers by weakening the effects of irritants in tobacco smoke, allowing smokers to inhale each cigarette with greater intensity (Strasser et al., 2013). However, there have been mixed conclusions regarding the effects of mentholated cigarettes on puff topography and nicotine intake (e.g., Ahijevych et al., 1996; Jarvik et al., 1994; Lawrence et al., 2011; Richardson, 1997; (Strasser et al., 2013). Regardless of menthol status, Blacks in our sample had higher levels of nicotine intake per cigarette than whites, and this was consistent with past findings (Ross et al., 2016a,b; St. Helen et al., 2019a,b).

    • Lack of effect of menthol level and type on smokers' estimated mouth level exposures to tar and nicotine and perceived sensory characteristics of cigarette smoke

      2012, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Puff volumes were reported in six studies. A decrease in puff volume with mentholated cigarettes was reported in four of the studies, three of which were significant (Nil and Battig, 1989; Jarvik et al., 1994; McCarthy et al., 1995) and one not significant (Ahijevych et al., 1996). One study reported similar puff volumes for menthol and non-menthol cigarettes (Miller et al., 1994) and one reported a significant increase in puff volume associated with menthol cigarettes (Ahijevych and Parsley, 1999).

    • A survey of mouth level exposure to cigarette smoke in the United States

      2011, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
      Citation Excerpt :

      No significant difference between menthol and non-mentholated cigarettes was reported in four of the studies (Caskey et al., 1993; Miller et al., 1994; Ahijevych et al., 1996; Pickworth et al., 2002). A significantly reduced puff number was associated with mentholated products in three of the studies (Nil and Battig, 1989; Jarvik et al., 1994; McCarthy et al., 1995). Puff volumes were reported in six studies.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text