NEW RESEARCH FROM ESSENTRA SCIENTIFIC SERVICES FINDSDIOXINSARENOT PRESENT AT DETECTABLE LEVELS IN CIGARETTE MAINSTREAM SMOKE

Source from:  Tobacco China Online 02/07/2014

Essentra Scientific Services, part of the Filter Products division of Essentra plc, has published its latest findings into the levels of chlorinated dioxins and furans found in mainstream cigarette smoke. The newresearch, carried out by Dr William Guthery, Analytical Chemist at Essentra Scientific Services, drew on an innovative Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysisto demonstrate that dioxins,which are cited by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHC), were not present at detectable levels in the two types of cigarette that were tested1. To download the full research paper for free, visit: www.essentrafilters.com/Dioxins

Chlorinated dioxins and furans, commonly referred to as dioxins, are a sub-group of compounds consisting of tetra- through octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). They are anthropogenic chemicals formed from combustion/pyrolysis and manufacturing processes, and are identified as being highly toxic by organisations such as the World Health Organisation and FDA. It is therefore crucial to determine whether and to what extent mainstream cigarettes contain such substances, which led Essentra Scientific Services to conduct its latest research.

Whereas standard methods are available for the analysis of dioxins arising from industrial contamination of soil, waste water and biological tissue, the data on dioxin levels in mainstream cigarette smoke has to date been relatively limited.One reason for this is that detecting the actual extent to which such substances are present in cigarettes could be challenging. As dioxins are ubiquitous in the environment, it is reasonable to assume their presence in tobacco smoke. This means that the source of these chemicals could be environmental contamination or combustion/pyrolysis of dioxin precursors found in tobacco and/or cigarette paper.

In order to overcome such environmental challenges, Essentra Scientific Services adopted a state-of-the-art clean-up procedure followed by analysis using GC-MS/MS, to determine whether dioxins were present at detectable levels in the mainstream smoke of Kentucky (K3R4F)and CORESTA (CM7) type cigarettes.The advantage of using this testing method was that matrix interferences were effectively removed, thus ensuring a clear chromatographic resolution for all of the congeners.

The clean-up test demonstrated that dioxins were not present at detectable levelsin the K3R4F or CM7 reference cigarettes under International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or Health Canada Intense smoking conditions. The results were reported in terms of total toxic equivalence (TEQ). The limit of detection (LOD), based on empirical precision, was calculated at4.3 pg TEQ/cig. Cigarettes adulterated with dioxins were measured as low as 16.8 pg TEQ /cig. These findingssuggest that dioxins are not ordinarily produced in the combustion/pyrolysis of certain types of tobacco at levels that would exceed the US Environmental Protection Agency safe limit.

The study was carried out on American blend and Virginia cigarettes. Essentra has the testing machinery and expertise at its Scientific Services laboratory to measure dioxins and furans at very low (less than 100 picograms/cigarette) levels

About Essentra Filter Products

Essentra Filter Productsis the world's leading independent solutions provider and partner for special filters and scientific services to the tobacco industry. Headquartered in Singapore, the company provides its customers with a complete service offering innovative filter solutions, expert guidance and state-of-the-art scientific testing. As legislation becomes more stringent, and the industry demands more sophisticated products to meet regulatory and end-user requirements, Essentra's unparalleled expertise, resources and breadth of vision enable it to deliver the optimum solution to any customer, anywhere in the world.

Amongst its filter solutions, Essentra Filter Products offers products to provide brand and visual differentiation, to reduce the overall cost of a cigarette and which are more environmentally friendly than standard filters. The company also provides a cost-effective end-to-end service to the RYO market of innovative filter tips available packaged in branded, retail-ready boxes, in a complete range of shapes and sizes, all from one supplier. With nine strategically-located manufacturing facilities around the globe and a state-of-the-art scientific laboratory, Essentra's team of highly knowledgeable and experienced experts and representatives are ideally positioned to work in partnership with customers to meet their product development, scientific testing and regulatory needs.

Essentra Scientific Services,part of the Filter Products division of Essentra PLC,is a world-leading, internationally accredited (ISO 17025) laboratory offering commercial and analytical testing, guidance and product solutions. With a global reputation for innovation in tobacco science, the laboratory, based in Jarrow, UK, enables customers to specify the exact level of testing they require and offers a diverse range of services, including testing for tobacco, other tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, smoke and filter testing.

To find out more about Essentra Filter Products, visit www.essentrafilters.com

To find out more about Essentra Scientific Services, visit www.essentrafilters.com/scientificservices

About Essentra plc

Essentra plc ("Essentra") is a FTSE 250 company and a leading international supplier of speciality plastic, fibre, foam and packaging products with four principal operating divisions: Component & Protection Solutions, Porous Technologies, Packaging & Securing Solutions, and Filter Products.　Essentra focuses on the light manufacture and distribution of high volume, essential components which serve customers in a wide variety of end-markets and geographies.

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Essentra's global network extends to 32countries and includes c. 5,500 employees, 42 principal manufacturing facilities, 64 sales & distribution operations and 5 research & development centres.

For further info on Essentra plc please visit: www.essentra.com

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