The effect of menthol containing cigarettes on adult smokers' exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide.
There is limited information comparing biomarkers of exposure (BOE) to cigarette smoke in menthol (MS) and non-menthol cigarette smokers (NMS).


OBJECTIVE
To compare BOE to nicotine and carbon monoxide in MS and NMS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, observational, ambulatory, multi-centre study in 3341 adult cigarette smokers. Nicotine equivalents (NE) in 24h urine, NE/cigarette, COHb and serum cotinine were measured. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance and Wilcoxon test.


RESULTS
Analyses of variance revealed no statistically significant effects of mentholated cigarettes on NE/24h, COHb, serum cotinine and NE/cigarette. On average MS smoked 15.0 and NMS 16.8 cigarettes/day. The unadjusted mean differences were as follows: MS had lower NE/24h (5.4%) and COHb (3.2%), higher serum cotinine (3.0%) and NE/cigarette (5.7%) than NMS. African-Americans MS smoked 40% fewer cigarettes, showed lower NE/24h (24%) and COHb (10%) and higher NE/cig (29%) and serum cotinine (8%) levels than their White counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking mentholated cigarettes does not increase daily exposure to smoke constituents as measured by NE and COHb. These findings are consistent with the majority of epidemiological studies indicating no difference in smoking related risks between MS and NMS.
Wang
Jingzhu
J
Altria Client Services Inc., Center for Research and Technology, 601 E. Jackson Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.
Roethig
Hans J
HJ
Appleton
Scott
S
Werley
Michael
M
Muhammad-Kah
Raheema
R
Mendes
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D044383:Black People; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000737:chemistry*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult; D001741:Black or African American
D015415:Biomarkers; D008610:Menthol; D009538:Nicotine; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin; D003367:Cotinine