Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Tobacco Control logoLink to Tobacco Control
. 2002 Mar;11(1):55–60. doi: 10.1136/tc.11.1.55

Cigarette nicotine yields and nicotine intake among Japanese male workers

K Ueda 1, I Kawachi 1, M Nakamura 1, H Nogami 1, N Shirokawa 1, S Masui 1, A Okayama 1, A Oshima 1
PMCID: PMC1747645  PMID: 11891369

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse brand nicotine yield including "ultra low" brands (that is, cigarettes yielding ≤ 0.1 mg of nicotine by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) methods) in relation to nicotine intake (urinary nicotine, cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine) among 246 Japanese male smokers.

Design: Cross sectional study.

Setting: Two companies in Osaka, Japan.

Subjects: 130 Japanese male workers selected randomly during their annual regular health check up and 116 Japanese male volunteers taking part in a smoking cessation programme.

Main outcome measurements: Subjects answered a questionnaire about smoking habits. Following the interview, each participant was asked to smoke his own cigarette and, after extinguishing it, to blow expired air into an apparatus for measuring carbon monoxide concentration. Urine was also collected for the assays of nicotine metabolites.

Results: We found wide variation in urinary nicotine metabolite concentrations at any given nicotine yield. Based on one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the urinary nicotine metabolite concentrations of ultra low yield cigarette smokers were significantly lower compared to smokers of high (p = 0.002) and medium yield cigarettes (p = 0.017). On the other hand, the estimated nicotine intake per ultra low yield cigarette smoked (0.59 mg) was much higher than the 0.1 mg indicated by machine.

Conclusions: In this study of Japanese male smokers, actual levels of nicotine intake bore little relation to advertised nicotine yield levels. Our study reinforces the need to warn consumers of inappropriate advertisements of nicotine yields, especially low yield brands.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (176.9 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adams L., Lee C., Rawbone R., Guz A. Patterns of smoking: measurement and variability in asymptomatic smokers. Clin Sci (Lond) 1983 Oct;65(4):383–392. doi: 10.1042/cs0650383. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Armitage A. K., Alexander J., Hopkins R., Ward C. Evaluation of a low to middle tar/medium nicotine cigarette designed to maintain nicotine delivery to the smoker. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1988;96(4):447–453. doi: 10.1007/BF02180022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Benowitz N. L., Hall S. M., Herning R. I., Jacob P., 3rd, Jones R. T., Osman A. L. Smokers of low-yield cigarettes do not consume less nicotine. N Engl J Med. 1983 Jul 21;309(3):139–142. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198307213090303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Benowitz N. L., Jacob P., 3rd, Fong I., Gupta S. Nicotine metabolic profile in man: comparison of cigarette smoking and transdermal nicotine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1994 Jan;268(1):296–303. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Benowitz N. L., Jacob P., 3rd, Yu L., Talcott R., Hall S., Jones R. T. Reduced tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide exposure while smoking ultralow- but not low-yield cigarettes. JAMA. 1986 Jul 11;256(2):241–246. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Benowitz N. L., Kuyt F., Jacob P., 3rd, Jones R. T., Osman A. L. Cotinine disposition and effects. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1983 Nov;34(5):604–611. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1983.222. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Coultas D. B., Stidley C. A., Samet J. M. Cigarette yields of tar and nicotine and markers of exposure to tobacco smoke. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1993 Aug;148(2):435–440. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm/148.2.435. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DiClemente C. C., Prochaska J. O., Fairhurst S. K., Velicer W. F., Velasquez M. M., Rossi J. S. The process of smoking cessation: an analysis of precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages of change. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1991 Apr;59(2):295–304. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.59.2.295. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Djordjevic M. V., Stellman S. D., Zang E. Doses of nicotine and lung carcinogens delivered to cigarette smokers. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Jan 19;92(2):106–111. doi: 10.1093/jnci/92.2.106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Djordjevic M. V., Stellman S. D., Zang E. Doses of nicotine and lung carcinogens delivered to cigarette smokers. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Jan 19;92(2):106–111. doi: 10.1093/jnci/92.2.106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Ebert R. V., McNabb M. E., McCusker K. T., Snow S. L. Amount of nicotine and carbon monoxide inhaled by smokers of low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes. JAMA. 1983 Nov 25;250(20):2840–2842. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Fagerström K. O. Effects of a nicotine-enriched cigarette on nicotine titration, daily cigarette consumption, and levels of carbon monoxide, cotinine, and nicotine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1982;77(2):164–167. doi: 10.1007/BF00431941. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Franceschi S., Bidoli E. The epidemiology of lung cancer. Ann Oncol. 1999;10 (Suppl 5):S3–S6. doi: 10.1093/annonc/10.suppl_5.s3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gori G. B., Benowitz N. L., Lynch C. J. Mouth versus deep airways absorption of nicotine in cigarette smokers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1986 Dec;25(6):1181–1184. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(86)90108-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Gori G. B., Lynch C. J. Analytical cigarette yields as predictors of smoke bioavailability. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1985 Sep;5(3):314–326. doi: 10.1016/0273-2300(85)90045-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Gori G. B., Lynch C. J. Smoker intake from cigarettes in the 1-mg Federal Trade Commission tar class. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1983 Jun;3(2):110–120. doi: 10.1016/0273-2300(83)90035-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Haley N. J., Sepkovic D. W., Hoffmann D., Wynder E. L. Cigarette smoking as a risk for cardiovascular disease. Part VI. Compensation with nicotine availability as a single variable. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1985 Aug;38(2):164–170. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1985.153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hee J., Callais F., Momas I., Laurent A. M., Min S., Molinier P., Chastagnier M., Claude J. R., Festy B. Smokers' behaviour and exposure according to cigarette yield and smoking experience. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1995 Sep;52(1):195–203. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(95)00089-f. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Henningfield J. E. Nicotine medications for smoking cessation. N Engl J Med. 1995 Nov 2;333(18):1196–1203. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199511023331807. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Herning R. I., Jones R. T., Benowitz N. L., Mines A. H. How a cigarette is smoked determines blood nicotine levels. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1983 Jan;33(1):84–90. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1983.12. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Honjo K., Kawachi I. Effects of market liberalisation on smoking in Japan. Tob Control. 2000 Jun;9(2):193–200. doi: 10.1136/tc.9.2.193. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Jarvis M. J., Boreham R., Primatesta P., Feyerabend C., Bryant A. Nicotine yield from machine-smoked cigarettes and nicotine intakes in smokers: evidence from a representative population survey. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2001 Jan 17;93(2):134–138. doi: 10.1093/jnci/93.2.134. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Jarvis M., Tunstall-Pedoe H., Feyerabend C., Vesey C., Salloojee Y. Biochemical markers of smoke absorption and self reported exposure to passive smoking. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1984 Dec;38(4):335–339. doi: 10.1136/jech.38.4.335. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Kawano H., Inamasu T., Ishizawa M., Ishinishi N., Kumazawa J. Mutagenicity of urine from young male smokers and nonsmokers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1987;59(1):1–9. doi: 10.1007/BF00377673. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Kolonen S. A., Puhakainen E. V. Assessment of the automated colorimetric and the high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for nicotine intake by urine samples of smokers' smoking low- and medium-yield cigarettes. Clin Chim Acta. 1991 Feb 15;196(2-3):159–166. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(91)90069-o. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Kolonen S., Tuomisto J., Puustinen P., Airaksinen M. M. Puffing behavior during the smoking of a single cigarette in a naturalistic environment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1992 Apr;41(4):701–706. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(92)90215-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Kolonen S., Tuomisto J., Puustinen P., Airaksinen M. M. Smoking behavior in low-yield cigarette smokers and switchers in the natural environment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1991 Sep;40(1):177–180. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(91)90341-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Kozlowski L. T., Goldberg M. E., Yost B. A., Ahern F. M., Aronson K. R., Sweeney C. T. Smokers are unaware of the filter vents now on most cigarettes: results of a national survey. Tob Control. 1996 Winter;5(4):265–270. doi: 10.1136/tc.5.4.265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Kozlowski L. T., Goldberg M. E., Yost B. A., White E. L., Sweeney C. T., Pillitteri J. L. Smokers' misperceptions of light and ultra-light cigarettes may keep them smoking. Am J Prev Med. 1998 Jul;15(1):9–16. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00004-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Kozlowski L. T., Heatherton T. F., Frecker R. C., Nolte H. E. Self-selected blocking of vents on low-yield cigarettes. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1989 Aug;33(4):815–819. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(89)90476-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Kozlowski L. T., Pope M. A., Lux J. E. Prevalence of the misuse of ultra-low-tar cigarettes by blocking filter vents. Am J Public Health. 1988 Jun;78(6):694–695. doi: 10.2105/ajph.78.6.694. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Mohtashamipur E., Norpoth K., Lieder F. Urinary excretion of mutagens in smokers of cigarettes with various tar and nicotine yields, black tobacco, and cigars. Cancer Lett. 1987 Jan;34(1):103–112. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(87)90079-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Oddoze C., Pauli A. M., Pastor J. Rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of nicotine and cotinine in nonsmoker human and rat urines. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. 1998 Apr 24;708(1-2):95–101. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(97)00632-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Pallonen U. E., Fava J. L., Salonen J. T., Prochaska J. O. Readiness for smoking change among middle-aged Finnish men. Addict Behav. 1992 Sep-Oct;17(5):415–423. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(92)90002-d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Parviainen M. T., Barlow R. D. Assessment of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of nicotine and two of its metabolites in urine. J Chromatogr. 1988 Sep 23;431(1):216–221. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)83088-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Prochaska J. O., DiClemente C. C. Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: toward an integrative model of change. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1983 Jun;51(3):390–395. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.51.3.390. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Prochaska J. O., Velicer W. F., DiClemente C. C., Fava J. Measuring processes of change: applications to the cessation of smoking. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1988 Aug;56(4):520–528. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.56.4.520. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Rickert W. S., Robinson J. C., Young J. C., Collishaw N. E., Bray D. F. A comparison of the yields of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide of 36 brands of Canadian cigarettes tested under three conditions. Prev Med. 1983 Sep;12(5):682–694. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(83)90226-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Russell M. A., Jarvis M. J., Feyerabend C., Saloojee Y. Reduction of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide intake in low tar smokers. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1986 Mar;40(1):80–85. doi: 10.1136/jech.40.1.80. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Russell M. A., Jarvis M., Iyer R., Feyerabend C. Relation of nicotine yield of cigarettes to blood nicotine concentrations in smokers. Br Med J. 1980 Apr 5;280(6219):972–976. doi: 10.1136/bmj.280.6219.972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Thompson S. G., Stone R., Nanchahal K., Wald N. J. Relation of urinary cotinine concentrations to cigarette smoking and to exposure to other people's smoke. Thorax. 1990 May;45(5):356–361. doi: 10.1136/thx.45.5.356. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Tobin M. J., Jenouri G., Sackner M. A. Subjective and objective measurement of cigarette smoke inhalation. Chest. 1982 Dec;82(6):696–700. doi: 10.1378/chest.82.6.696. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Tobin M. J., Sackner M. A. Monitoring smoking patterns of low and high tar cigarettes with inductive plethysmography. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1982 Aug;126(2):258–264. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1982.126.2.258. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Ueda K., Nakamura M., Shirokawa N., Kinoshita T., Masui S., Nogami H., Oshima A. [The relationship between stages and biochemical markers of smoking. Workplace-based cross-sectional and longitudinal studies]. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2000 Sep;47(9):783–791. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Vine M. F., Hulka B. S., Margolin B. H., Truong Y. K., Hu P. C., Schramm M. M., Griffith J. D., McCann M., Everson R. B. Cotinine concentrations in semen, urine, and blood of smokers and nonsmokers. Am J Public Health. 1993 Sep;83(9):1335–1338. doi: 10.2105/ajph.83.9.1335. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Watson I. D. Rapid analysis of nicotine and cotinine in the urine of smokers by isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr. 1977 Mar 1;143(2):203–206. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)81825-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Willers S., Attewell R., Bensryd I., Schutz A., Skarping G., Vahter M. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the household and urinary cotinine excretion, heavy metals retention, and lung function. Arch Environ Health. 1992 Sep-Oct;47(5):357–363. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1992.9938375. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Woodward M., Tunstall-Pedoe H. Do smokers of lower tar cigarettes consume lower amounts of smoke components? Results from the Scottish Heart Health Study. Br J Addict. 1992 Jun;87(6):921–928. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1992.tb01987.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Woodward M., Tunstall-Pedoe H. Self-titration of nicotine: evidence from the Scottish Heart Health Study. Addiction. 1993 Jun;88(6):821–830. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1993.tb02096.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Zacny J. P., Stitzer M. L. Cigarette brand-switching: effects on smoke exposure and smoking behavior. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1988 Aug;246(2):619–627. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Tobacco Control are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES