Objective-To compare the nicotine content of 12 unfiltered brands of bidi cigarettes (hand rolled cigarettes imported from India) with 8 popular brands of filtered and unfiltered US and conventional cigarettes from India. Main outcome measures-Identical laboratory procedures were used to determine nicotine content (in duplicate) and physical characteristics. Results-The nicotine concentration in the tobacco of bidi cigarettes (21.2 mg/g) was significantly greater than the tobacco from the commercial filtered (16.3 mg/g) and unfiltered cigarettes (13.5 mg/g). Conclusions-Bidi cigarettes contain higher concentrations of nicotine than conventional cigarettes. Therefore, it is logical to presume that bidi smokers are at risk of becoming nicotine dependent. These findings belie a popular belief among US teens that bidis are a safe alternative to commercial cigarettes. (Tobacco Control 2001;10:181-183)

Data from two studies were analyzed to determine whether smoking through the mouthpiece of a topography unit yields consistent measures over time and to verify that smoking through a mouthpiece results in a similar degree of smoke exposure as conventional smoking. In both studies, subjects smoked their usual brand of cigarette ad libitum. In study A, subjects (n=7) smoked through a mouthpiece on 4 separate experimental days. In study B, subjects (n=10) smoked on 2 separate days: Once conventionally and once through a mouthpiece. In both studies, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and physiological effects (heart rate and blood pressure) were measured before and after smoking. In study B, plasma nicotine concentrations also were measured. In study A, puff volume, puff duration, interpuff interval, and maximum puff velocity averaged 30.8 ml,.9 s, 19.9 s, and 44.6 ml/s, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients computed for puff volume (0.66), puff duration (0.75), and maximum puff velocity (0.68) indicated that these measures showed good reliability. In study B, smoking through the mouthpiece yielded similar topographical (time to smoke and number of puffs per cigarette) measures as conventional smoking. Also similar were changes in biochemical values: Plasma nicotine (18.5 ng/ml vs. 25.5 ng/ml), exhaled CO (4.6 ppm vs. 5.1 ppm), and heart rate (8.6 beats/min vs. 7.4 beats/min) for conventional and topography mouthpiece smoking conditions, respectively. Topography measures did not differ significantly between the two studies. Overall, the data from these two small-sample studies suggest that smoking topography provides a valid and reliable index of conventional smoking and an indirect measure of smoke exposure.

Alternative tobacco products such as clove (kreteks) and bidi cigarettes have become increasingly popular among US smokers. The nicotine content of a popular clove cigarette (Djarum Special) filler averaged 7.4 mg; conventional cigarettes contained 13.0 mg. However, smoke yields from standardized machine-smoking analysis indicated it delivered more nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and tar than conventional cigarettes. In a clinical study, nicotine delivery, physiologic, and subjective effects of the clove cigarette were compared to their own brand of cigarette in 10 adult smokers (7 males). Average time to smoke the clove cigarette (549 s) and number of puffs (15.1) were significantly greater than own brand (314 s and 9.4 puffs). Increases in venous plasma nicotine and exhaled CO after smoking the clove cigarette (17.4 ng/ml; 6 ppm) were similar to those after own brand (17.6 ng/ml; 4.5 ppm). Maximal changes in heart rate (HR), systolic, and diastolic blood pressures (BP) did not differ significantly between the clove and own brand of cigarette. Compared to their own brand of cigarette, the clove cigarette was rated as better tasting and being distinctly different. Our findings indicate that clove cigarettes deliver significant quantities of nicotine, CO, and presumably other toxic components of tobacco smoke. Taste satisfaction, aromatic odor, and novelty may contribute to their appeal to young smokers.

No abstract

The present study was conducted to determine whether smoking bidis, an additive-free cigarette, and conventional cigarettes caused similar biochemical, physiological and subjective effects. This was an open-label, within-subject design. In each session, subjects (n = 10) smoked a single cigarette: an unfiltered Natural American Spirit, an unfiltered Irie bidi, an unfiltered Sher bidi, or one of the participant's own brand. The presentation of the cigarettes was randomized. Before and up to 1 h after smoking, biochemical markers [plasma nicotine levels and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO)] and physiological effects of nicotine (heart rate and blood pressure) were measured. After smoking, subjects completed two standardized tests of cigarette liking and cigarette sensations. American Spirit (32.1 ng/ml) and Irie bidi (26.0 ng/ml) cigarettes increased plasma nicotine more than the participant's own brand (18.5 ng/ml). Subjects smoked longer and took more puffs to consume the American Spirit (452.8 s, 14 puffs) and Sher bidi (354.4 s, 14 puffs) than the participant's own brand (297.4 s, 10 puffs). In spite of differences in nicotine delivery, participants rated all cigarettes as similar in nicotine content. Overall, the results indicate that bidis and the additive-free cigarette delivered nicotine, CO and (presumably) other toxic components of tobacco smoke in equal or greater amounts than conventional cigarettes. These results do not support an emerging belief that bidi cigarettes are safer than conventional brands.