From: afoxland@gj.net
Date: Thu, 12/07/00
December 7, 2000
Of all the possible flavors, why do cigarette makers add menthol
to cigarettes?
A number of documents (including this one, which relates results of
a study done at Philip Morris' overseas lab for biological studies, INBIFO
) reveal that menthol enhances the sensory, or drug effect, of nicotine.
"It was found that menthol increased 'impact' for the low
nicotine delivery cigarette...as a function of the menthol content."
and,
"It was concluded that menthol has a pronounced effect on
nicotine-derived 'impact.'"
The term "impact" when used in industry documents is frequently
offset in quotes. In position papers, Philip Morris' official
definition of the term "impact" is a "feeling sensation rather than
odor or taste." They further compare it to the carbonation
in soda pop or the spicy heat in chili peppers. People who have worked
inside the industry, though, tell us that "impact" refers to the drug effect
of a substance, particularly nicotine.
---> In reading large numbers of documents, it is interesting to see
that Philip Morris performed many (and what appears to be the majority)
of its human biological studies internally on their own R&D (Research
and Development Department) employees. What could have been the reason
that PM avoided using outside subjects? What could have been
the effect on the employees?
Title: THE EFFECTS OF MENTHOL / NICOTINE INTERACTIONS ON PERCEIVED
'IMPACT'
Type of Document: Scientific report
Author: INBIFO, INSTITUT FUR BIOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNG (Philip Morris'
overseas lab for biological studies)
Recipient: N/A
Date: 19950329
Site: Philip Morris document site http://www.pmdocs.com/
Page Count: 1
Bates No. 2028817905
URL: http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=2028817905
Litigation Usage: None yet
Found Using Search Criteria: "menthol/nicotine"
Quote:
Little is known about the subjective interactions between menthol
and nicotine in cigarette smoke. Specifically, the effects of menthol
on nicotine-derived "impact" have not been investigated. The present
experiment thought to determine whether menthol affects nicotine-derived
"impact" and, if so, to determine the nature of the menthol/nicotine interaction.
...The cigarettes used in the study contained factorial combinations
of 3 levels of nicoitne...and 4 levels of menthol. Twenty R&D
smokers smoked each of the 12 cigarette types. They related "impact"
on a 7-point scale by means of a descriptive ballot.
It was found that menthol increased "impact" for the low nicotine
delivery cigarette...as a function of the menthol content. Low and
intermediate menthol level additions to cigarettes delivering 0.91 mg/cig.
nicotine decreased "impact." [added in handwritten note: The
effect of menthol was most pronounced for the cigarette with the lowest
nicotine delivery.] .... It was concluded that menthol
has a pronounced effect on nicotine-derived "impact." Therefore,
menthol levels must be considered when targeting cigarettes for degree
of perceived "impact."
_____________________________________________________________________________
You can see a graph of nicotine delivery vs.
menthol content at this URL (on the Philip Morris site): http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=2028813524
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