Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mainstream smoke of Chinese Cigarettes

Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Mainstream Smoke of Chinese Cigarettes HUANG Shu-hai, GE Xian-min, TA NC, Jun-han, et al. Guangxi Centerfor Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning , Guangxi 530021 , China Abstract: Objective To analyze the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) in mainstream smoke of 20 brands of Chinese cigarette. Methods Mainstream smoke of 20 brands of Chinese cigarettes were collected by ASM51 smoking machine. Both tar and nicotine were analysed in the same time. Nine kinds of PAHs, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(g, h, j)perylene. and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene, in mainstream smoke. from each brand were determined with HPLC. Results Total PAHs ranged from 404.1 to 1 085 ng per cigarette with an average of 714.8 ng per cigarette. Non-carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 93% of total PAHs. Carcinogenic PAHs ranged from 49.4 to 117.7 ng per cigarette, averaging 89.4 ng per cigarette. Content of tar, not nicotine, was significantly related to either total PAHs or carcinogenic PAHs. Conclusion Significant correlation between tar and PAHs suggests that tar may be a predictor of carcinogenic PAHs in mainstream smoke of Chinese cigarettes and a parameter to assess the impact of Chinese cigarettes on health. Key words: Tar; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Cigarette; Chromatography, high pressure. liquid