Yale and Duke Researchers Identify Synthetic Chemicals in Alternative Non-Menthol Cigarettes: Implications for Policy and Public Health

Yale and Duke Researchers Identify Synthetic Chemicals in Alternative Non-Menthol Cigarettes: Implications for Policy and Public Health

Scientists from Yale and Duke University have revealed the presence of synthetic chemicals in “non-menthol” cigarettes, which are promoted as substitutes in regions where traditional menthol cigarettes are outlawed. These chemicals, notably a synthetic flavoring compound named WS-3, emulate the cooling sensation provided by menthol but lack its minty flavor.

This finding presents serious challenges to current regulations and the impending U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s prohibition on menthol cigarettes, aimed at discouraging prospective smokers and reducing the harmful health effects of tobacco use.

Municipalities across the United States, as well as states such as Massachusetts and California, have already implemented restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products, including those with menthol.

Published on October 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the research was conducted by experts from the Yale School of Public Health, the Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale, and Duke School of Medicine. The researchers discovered WS-3 in these alternative “non-menthol” cigarettes, which delivers a cooling sensation comparable to, or even stronger than, menthol, but without its characteristic minty aroma or flavor.

Julie Zimmerman, co-author of the study and professor at the Yale School of Public Health, cautioned that replacing menthol with another odorless cooling agent could negate the effectiveness of existing local and proposed federal bans on menthol cigarettes. The ultimate goal of these bans is to discourage smoking and decrease the incidence of new smokers.

Flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, are particularly appealing to younger individuals and those new to smoking. This type of tobacco product has also been disproportionately marketed to African Americans, 90% of whom who smoke opt for menthol cigarettes. Long-term tobacco use leads to severe health issues, including nicotine addiction, respiratory complications, cancer, and other adverse health effects.

In December 2022, following California’s menthol ban, major tobacco corporations like RJ Reynolds and ITG introduced “non-menthol” cigarette brands with similar packaging and promotional tactics to their menthol counterparts.

In this study, co-lead authors Hanno Erythropel and Sairam Jabba combined bioassay with chemical analysis to investigate whether “non-menthol” cigarettes purchased in California and Massachusetts contained chemicals that activate the cold/menthol receptor in a manner similar to menthol. Their tests identified WS-3 in four of nine analyzed products, all manufactured by RJ Reynolds, and also detected vanilla and tropical flavors in filter capsules of these cigarettes.

The implications of these discoveries are grave, according to Erythropel. He suggests that the U.S. FDA should formulate strategies to address the presence of odorless cooling agents that could evade existing tobacco product flavor regulations. Some countries, including Canada and Belgium, have already commenced actions to tackle this issue.

The interdisciplinary nature of the study, which encompasses toxicology, chemistry, psychiatry, and engineering, underscores the necessity of collaborative efforts in producing impactful research, said Paul Anastas, co-author of the study and professor at the Yale School of the Environment.

Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institutes of Health, and the Center for Tobacco Products of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sven-Eric Jordt, associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Duke University School of Medicine, is the senior author of the paper.

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More about synthetic chemicals in non-menthol cigarettes

• Journal of the American Medical Association: Original Study
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Tobacco Products
• National Institute on Drug Abuse: Funding and Grants
• Yale School of Public Health
• Duke School of Medicine
• Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale
• California’s Menthol Ban: Legislative Information
• Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program
• Canadian Tobacco and Vaping Regulations
• Belgium Tobacco Legislation