Thirdhand Smoke at Philip Morris

Abstract

This unpublished, original research from Philip Morris Inc. demonstrates that majority of the nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the secondhand smoke from each cigarette smoked indoors remains on indoor surfaces for months after the cigarette is extinguished. It also demonstrates that elevated concentrations of nicotine, ammonia, formaldehyde and the gas-phase nitrosamine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, can be found in the air for over 12 hours after smoking, that surface chemistry affects nitrosamine formation and persistence and that the amount of the carcinogenic nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) that persists months after smoking ends can exceed the amount that actually came out of the cigarettes.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Importantly, these residual substances can react, re-emit, and/or resuspend in an environment long after active smoking has ended [53]. Recently published proceedings from previous experiments performed at Philip Morris Inc. demonstrate persistence of high concentrations of nicotine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), over 100 days after cigarette smoke exposure was discontinued in a controlled environment [54]. Notably, the amount of NNK recovered at the end of the study was 170% of what was initially generated.…”

Research Article Genotoxic alterations in murine hepatocytes after short- and long-term exposure to N-nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, NNK, a component in tobacco cigarette smoke

“…NNK is one of the several carcinogens present in tobacco smoke and has strong carcinogenic properties (IARC MONOGRAPHS, 2004). Even at low concentrations, NNK exposure may result in the development of chronic diseases when directly or indirectly metabolized (Whitlatch and Schick, 2019). Considering that the liver is one of the main organs involved in drug and toxin metabolization, understanding how NNK can affect hepatocytes is important to control tobacco use and inform public health measures.…”

“…Calabrese and Blain (2005) indicated that hormetic dose responses have been described in several biological models. In 2011, an updated analysis showed that nitrosamines are involved in 2% of the total cases of hormesis (Calabrese and Blain, 2011;Whitlatch and Schick, 2019).…”

“…These effects are important when considering the concentration of toxins from cigarette smoke, which may reach the hepatocytes after cigarette smoking and that remain in the environment. A study analyzed the environmental persistence of third-hand smoke in a controlled chamber in Philip Morris Inc. between 1989 and 1992 and revealed that third-hand smoke, which is a mixture of tiny droplets and waxes from smoke, can be found in the environment for several months after a cigarette is extinguished (Whitlatch and Schick, 2019). The researchers of the study observed that NNK can be found in the air at a concentration of 1.5 pM in a non-ventilated room after a cigarette is smoked.…”

Tobacco-specific nitrosamine 1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal (NNA) causes DNA damage and impaired replication/transcription in human lung cells

“…More specifically, surface-bound nicotine reacts with nitrous acid (HONO), a common atmospheric species that is emitted from indoor combustion appliances and smoking, to produce tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) including NNA (4-(Methylnitrosamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)butanal), NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone) and NNN (N’-nitrosonornicotine) [ 1 , 2 ]. Substantial levels of TSNAs are detected on surfaces inside smoker’s home, vehicles, skins, cloths and these levels often increase over time with frequent smoking [ 1 – 4 ]. Some of these compounds such as NNK and NNN are potent carcinogens in animal studies [ 5 ], however, the risk of NNA, mainly detected in THS and rarely found in mainstream smoke (MSS) or second-hand smoke (SHS), remains largely unknown.…”