Analysis of Hazard Index of Mainstream Smoke in Tobacco Leaves of New Flue-cured Tobacco Varieties

Purpose In order to investigate hazard indexes of mainstream smoke (H) of 38 new flue-cured tobacco varieties.

Method Routine chemical components (tar, moisture and nicotine) and 7 toxic chemicals (NH₃, HCN, phenol, crotonaldehyde, BaP, NNK and CO) of mainstream smoke of 38 new flue-cured tobacco varieties were detected, and then their H indexes were calculated by standard methods.

Result Tar of mainstream smoke in tobacco leaves of 29 varieties were below 11 mg/cig., nicotine of 30 varieties were below 1.2 mg/cig., suggested most varieties satisfied the cigarette manufacture; H indexes of 33 varieties were below the normal H index (8.60) of cigarette products, thus suggested these varieties satisfied the requirements of the cigarette production. H indexes of 15 varieties were below 8.00, and these varieties could be used for development of low hazard cigarettes.

Conclusion Based on the tar content, nicotine content and H index, most varieties were suitable for cigarette development of cigarettes’ manufacturer.