Protocol - Physical Properties of Tobacco Products - Cigarettes and Filtered Cigars

Personnel and Training Required

Staff must be trained in using the specialized equipment cited in the protocol.

Equipment Needs

A specially designed wooden measuring device is used to determine a cigarette’s or filtered cigar’s length. A Cerulean cd2 express or Borgwaldt S10 is used to measure the circumference. Acetone or sulfuric acid.

Requirements

Requirement Category	Required
Major equipment	Yes
Specialized training	Yes
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection	No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual	No

Mode of Administration

Physical Examination

Lifestage

Not applicable

Participants

N/A

Selection Rationale

This validated protocol is more accurate than self-report protocols, and it addresses many physical attributes of cigarettes and cigars with well-established instructions.

The protocols indicate different approaches for analyzing various physical characteristics of cigarettes and cigars, and the Working Group has recommended the specific approaches to use based on the following rationale:

For Cigarette Length, the method described for Brown & Williamson has two advantages over other protocols: it does not require any special equipment, and it measures both the cigarette length and the filter length.

For Tobacco Weight, the procedure described for Philip Morris is most detailed and does not require special equipment.

For Filter Type, the procedure used by Philip Morris was chosen because it provides specific instructions on how to proceed if visual examination is not conclusive.

Cigarette Circumference is of interest due to its use in marketing to women and for its implied relevance to reduced health risks.

Filter Ventilation has significant impact on smoke strength perception and health perceptions.

Language

English

Standards

Standard	Name	ID	Source
caDSR Form	PhenX PX730501 - Physical Properties Of Tobacco Products Cigarettes And Filtered Cigars	6239692	caDSR Form

Derived Variables

N/A

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

Massachusetts Benchmark Study (MBS), 1999

Source

Massachusetts Department of Health. (2000, July 24). Appendix 3: Physical measurement methods. In 1999 Massachusetts Benchmark Study: Final report. Boston: Author. legacy.library.ucsf.edu/documentStore/g/o/r/gor03c00/Sgor03c00.pdf

General References

None.

Protocol ID

730501

Variables

Export Variables

Variable Name	Variable ID	Variable Description	dbGaP Mapping
PX730501_Cigarettes_Average_Length
	PX730501030000	Ten cigarettes, laid mouth to butt, are more placed in a Cerulean cd2 express or Borgwaldt S10. The total length of the ten cigarettes is determined. The filters from each cigarette are removed, and the total length of ten filters laid end to end is deter show less	N/A
PX730501_Cigarette_Averageof20_Circumference
	PX730501040000	A Cerulean cd2 express or Borgwaldt S10 is more used for the circumference determination. Samples consist of 20 cigarettes, with each cigarette being tested individually. The AHL transports individual cigarettes to the testing station. The second module d show less	N/A
PX730501_FilterType_CelluloseAcetate_Paper_Cigarette
	PX730501080000	Filter type is determined through visual or more chemical techniques. After outer papers are removed, a visual examination is conducted. If a visual determination cannot be made, the sample is placed in acetone or sulfuric acid. Cellulose acetate dissolve show less	N/A
PX730501_FilterVentilation_Total_AirFlow_CigaretteCigar
	PX730501090000	Ventilation is the percentage of total air more flow drawn through the sample via the sides of the filter generally entering through perforations in the cigarette tipping paper. The Borgwaldt PV-10 is used to perform the measurement. Results represent the show less	N/A
PX730501_Ten_Cigarettes_Total_Length_WithFilters
	PX730501010000	Ten cigarettes, laid mouth to butt, are more placed in a Cerulean cd2 express or Borgwaldt S10. The total length of the ten cigarettes is determined. The filters from each cigarette are removed, and the total length of ten filters laid end to end is deter show less	N/A
PX730501_Ten_Cigarettes_Total_Length_WithoutFilters
	PX730501020000	Ten cigarettes, laid mouth to butt, are more placed in a Cerulean cd2 express or Borgwaldt S10. The total length of the ten cigarettes is determined. The filters from each cigarette are removed, and the total length of ten filters laid end to end is deter show less	N/A
PX730501_TobaccoWeight_15Cigarettes_Composite_WeightTotal
	PX730501050000	Tobacco weight is determined using an more indirect method. A group of 15 cigarettes is weighed and the composite weight recorded. The paper and filters of the corresponding 15 cigarettes are then removed and weighed and the composite weight recorded. The show less	N/A
PX730501_TobaccoWeight_15Cigarettes_CompositWeight_PapersFiltersOnly
	PX730501060000	Tobacco weight is determined using an more indirect method. A group of 15 cigarettes is weighed and the composite weight recorded. The paper and filters of the corresponding 15 cigarettes are then removed and weighed and the composite weight recorded. The show less	N/A
PX730501_TobaccoWeight_Average_Tobacco_Weight_PerCigarette
	PX730501070000	Tobacco weight is determined using an more indirect method. A group of 15 cigarettes is weighed and the composite weight recorded. The paper and filters of the corresponding 15 cigarettes are then removed and weighed and the composite weight recorded. The show less	N/A

Tobacco Regulatory Research: Agent

Measure Name

Physical Properties of Tobacco Products

Release Date

June 24, 2015

Definition

This measure is a set of standard physical tests for cigarettes and filtered cigars capturing the following design descriptors: Length, Circumference, Tobacco weight, Filter type, Filter ventilation.

Purpose

The purpose of this measure is to evaluate and compare existing product modifications as well as new products and brands, which can help investigators understand the effect of design features on product chemistry.

Keywords

agent, Tobacco Regulatory Research, TRR, tobacco product design, filtered cigar, cigarette, cigarette length, cigarette circumference, filter ventilation, tobacco weight, filter composition, tobacco product feature, tobacco design descriptor, physical test of cigarettes, tobacco brand, automatic hopper loader, 1999 Massachusetts Benchmark Study, Brown & Williamson, Philip Morris, tobacco product modifications

Measure Protocols

Protocol ID	Protocol Name
730501	Physical Properties of Tobacco Products - Cigarettes and Filtered Cigars
730502	Physical Properties of Tobacco Products - Smokeless Tobacco

Publications

Garcia-Cazarin, M.L., Mandal, R.J., Grana, R., Wanke, K.L., Meissner, H. (2020) Host-agent-vector-environment measures for electronic cigarette research used in NIH grants. Tobacco Control. 2020 January; 29(1). doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-054032