Investigation of menthol content and transfer rates in cigarettes and Tobacco heating System 2.2

Introduction:
This article provides data on menthol content in cigarettes and its transfer to cigarette mainstream smoke using both ISO (ISO, 2000a) and ISO intense (ISO, 2017) smoking regimes. The study compares menthol transfer in a range of menthol-containing commercial cigarettes from different markets and a mentholated version of ThS 2.2.

Key Points:

* Menthol content in cigarettes varies from 1 to 22 mg/cigarette.
* Transfer of menthol to cigarette mainstream smoke is generally slightly higher than nicotine transfer.
* The menthol content of ThS 2.2 is 12.8 mg/stick, and menthol transfer to aerosol is about 17% with ISO intense smoking regime.
* The addition of menthol to cigarettes does not increase harmful and potentially harmful constituents, in vitro cytotoxicity, or in vivo inhalation toxicity profile of cigarette mainstream smoke.
* Menthol equilibrates between tobacco, filter, and paper and partly permeates through the pack.
* Sensory perceptions linked to menthol are perceived at the lowest loading, corresponding to an ISO menthol mainstream smoke delivery of 0.05-0.16 mg/cigarette.
* No data is available for the cigarette mainstream smoke in mentholated cigarettes and capsule-containing products in South Korea.

Main Message:
The study provides valuable data on menthol content in cigarettes and its transfer to cigarette mainstream smoke using ISO and ISO intense smoking regimes. The findings can inform regulatory decisions related to menthol cigarettes and contribute to the ongoing debate about menthol's impact on smoking initiation and cessation. additionally, the comparison with ThS 2.2 mentholated version highlights the differences in menthol transfer between cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Jaccard, Guy, Maxim Belushkin, Cyril Jeannet, Evi Nurlaili aldilla, and andry Ongko Wijoyo. “Investigation of Menthol Content and Transfer Rates in Cigarettes and Tobacco heating System 2.2.” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 101 (February 2019): 48–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.11.004.