The Lure of the 'Healthier Smoke': Physical, Chemical, and Toxicological Characterization of Emissions from Herbal and Tobacco Cigarettes

ALOK KUMAR THAKUR, P. S. Ganesh Subramanian, Vishal Verma, Sameer Patel, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar

     Abstract Number: 146
     Working Group: Health-Related Aerosols

Abstract
Cigarette smoking continues to be a pervasive global health challenge, with well-documented acute and chronic health effects. Approximately 1.1 billion people around the world smoke tobacco in various forms, including traditional cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, pipes, and bidis. In response to growing health concerns, alternative products such as e-cigarettes and herbal (non-tobacco) cigarettes have gained popularity, often marketed as less harmful options or even health-enhancing substitutes. While the emission profiles and toxicological impacts of e-cigarettes have been widely investigated, the scientific evaluation of herbal cigarettes, particularly those claiming reduced or beneficial health impacts, remains limited.

This study presents a multi-dimensional assessment of firsthand smoke emissions from both conventional tobacco cigarettes and commercially available herbal cigarette products. Herbal variants, which substitute tobacco with herbs and spices such as mint, basil, and clove, are commonly promoted as nicotine-free alternatives for smoking cessation or wellness enhancement.

We employed a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and an Optical Particle Sizer to quantify the size distribution of emitted particles in the 10 nm to 10 µm range. Comprehensive chemical analyses were performed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and an EC/OC analyzer to determine the concentrations of trace metals and carbonaceous species. To assess the oxidative potential, a proxy for biological reactivity and toxicity, we conducted two established assays - the hydroxyl radical generation assay in surrogate lung fluid (OH-SLF) and the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay.

Correlative analyses among particle characteristics, chemical composition, and oxidative potential offer new insights into the comparative health risks posed by tobacco and herbal cigarette emissions. This work provides insights to assess the validity of "healthier smoke" claims.