Comparing smoking behaviors and exposures from flavored and unflavored cigarettes

Cigarettes with flavors such as mocha and citrus have been introduced in growing numbers. Besides their potential marketing appeal to nonsmokers, there is concern that flavors might mask smoke harshness, making inhalation easier. This pilot study evaluates differences in puff topography and cigarette ratings among 20 college student smokers smoking Camel Light (10 mg Tar, 0.9 mg nicotine, 35% filter ventilation) and Camel Exotic Blend cigarettes (11 mg Tar, 0.9 mg nicotine, 23% filter ventilation). Carbon monoxide boost was measured by assessing alveolar carbon monoxide (CO) levels before and after smoking each cigarette. Participants also rated each cigarette on characteristics such as strength, irritation, and taste. We found that participants took smaller puffs on the Exotic Blend versus Camel Light (42 mL vs. 48 mL, p < 0.001), but there was no reliable difference in total smoke volume (613.9 mL vs. 630.7 mL, p = 0.79) or CO boost (6.2 ppm vs. 6.2 ppm, p = 0.90). Exotic Blend cigarettes were rated as more different from the participant's usual brand, but otherwise the taste ratings did not differ. Overall, these preliminary data suggest that adding flavors to cigarettes may not significantly impact how they are smoked by current smokers.