The Differentiation of Tobacco Smoke Condensates on the Basis of Reducing Properties

Condensates obtained by smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco have been compared on the basis of their abilities to reduce cytochrome c and DCIP. Most market brands of flue-cured cigarettes, while differing on the basis of total reducing activities, give similar values when reducing activity is expressed as specific activity (reducing activity per mg particulate matter). Condensates from blended cigarette brands containing other types of tobacco in addition to flue-cured, have lower specific activities. Special types, such as cigarettes made from 100 % reconstituted tobacco and a ventilated cigarette, also give lower values. Both cigars and pipe tobaccos give condensates with distinctly lower specific activities than those obtained from flue-cured cigarettes. In the case of pipe tobacco a large amount of water accumulates on the Cambridge pads and has to be taken into account when calculating specific activities.