Filtrona Targets STMA's Harm Reduction Goals

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 09/08/2010

Filtrona Filter Products says that it has come up with three new filter designs to meet the requirements of the Chinese market and, specifically, the most recent recommendations of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) in relation to harm reduction. The new products offer cigarette manufacturers the option to reduce selectively levels of one or more of the seven chemicals that the STMA has deemed to be the most harmful constituents of cigarette smoke. Following a study (Development of a novel hazard index of mainstream cigarette smoke and its application on risk evaluation of cigarette products; Xie J. P. Zhengzhou; Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC Shanghai; CORESTA meeting November 2008.), the STMA released a list of seven chemicals (CO, HCN, NNK, NH3, B[a]P, crotonaldehyde and phenol) that it deemed to be the most harmful and recommended that cigarette manufacturers focused on selectively reducing them. To achieve approval by the STMA, it was recommended also that manufacturers should develop products that qualify for a hazard index rating of lower than 5.6. Filtrona says that its Filtrona Technology Centre (FTC) subsequently conducted a study of eight major Chinese cigarette brands, testing over 60 designs, to determine the most efficient filtration methods. The study resulted in three innovative filter designs that use a combination of filter technologies. The first product would offer a selective reduction of crotonaldehyde by up to 35 per cent (this and subsequent figures are based on laboratory tests conducted by the FTC) and hydrogen cyanide by up to 30 per cent, with an increase in NNK. The second product would offer a selective reduction of crotonaldehyde by up to 50 per cent, hydrogen cyanide by up to 70 per cent and phenol by up to five per cent, again with an increase in NNK. The third product would allow carbon monoxide to be reduced by up to 40 per cent, crotonaldehyde by up to 25 per cent, hydrogen cyanide by up to 75 per cent and phenol by up to 35 per cent, balanced by a reduced tar yield. Enditem