Transfer of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues into Cigarette Smoke as a Function of Tobacco Blends and Filter Types

The transfer during smoking of pesticides contained in tobacco into the smoke and the filter of cigarettes was investigated. The overall transfer into the mainstream smoke was 17 %. It was found to be independent of the type of the tobacco blend (American, Maryland, Virginia and Oriental). The pesticide retention of the following four filters was investigated: cellulose filter, cellulose acetate filter with low and high pressure drop, and a charcoal filter, characterized by nicotine retentions of 38 %, 27 %, 48 % and 54 %, respectively. The corresponding pesticide retentions found were 40 %, 21 %, 39 % and 38 %, i.e. lower than the nicotine retention in the cellulose acetate, and significantly lower in the charcoal filter. A 3 % degradation of p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT contained in tobacco to p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE respectively, was also observed. The pesticides initially contained in the tobacco part of the cigarette butt decreased during smoking. This appears to be the result of some initial condensation of substances carried through by the smoke stream (as indicated by the presence of pesticide degradation products), followed by strong desorption during the very last puffs.