title: Characterisation of a Vitrocell® VC 10 in vitro smoke exposure system using dose tools and biological analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of whole smoke exposure systems have been driven by the fact that traditional smoke exposure techniques are based on the particulate phase of tobacco smoke and not the complete smoke aerosol. To overcome these challenges in this study, we used a Vitrocell® VC 10 whole smoke exposure system. For characterisation purposes, we determined smoke deposition in relationship to airflow (L/min), regional smoke deposition within the linear exposure module, vapour phase dilution using a known smoke marker (carbon monoxide) and finally assessed biological responses using two independent biological systems, the Ames and Neutral Red uptake (NRU) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoke dilution correlates with particulate deposition (R2 = 0.97) and CO concentration (R2 = 0.98). Regional deposition analysis within the linear exposure chamber showed no statistical difference in deposited mass across the chamber at any airflows tested. Biological analysis showed consistent responses and positive correlations with deposited mass for both the Ames (R2 = 0.76) and NRU (R2 = 0.84) assays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that in our study, under the experimental conditions tested, the VC 10 can produce stable tobacco smoke dilutions, as demonstrated by particulate deposition, measured vapour phase smoke marker delivery and biological responses from two independent in vitro test systems.
authors.affiliation: British American Tobacco, Group R&D, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 8TL, UK. David_Thorne@bat.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kilford
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalrymple
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dillon