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TMACOD CMIISTS RESFARcH CONFERENCE:
MONTREAL, OCICBER 1985
The meeting was divided into two main technical sections: i) tobacco
chemistry, and ii) cigarette technology and smoke chemistry. In the
first, the effects on tobacco chemistry of agricultural practice, plant
genetics, curing and processing were described. The influence of growing
and processing on levels of Inoxal, including nitrosamines, wai3 discussed.
Studies on plant strain differences in terms of insect resistance, flavour
characteristics and nicotine content were described. Identification of
individual genes controlling specific chemical characteristics suggests
that the chemists and bio-engineers will be at work on developing "custom-
made" plant strains. Most of the work on tobacco was presented by the
USDA and university departments of agronomy, with some contributions fran
individual US tobacco companies.
The section of the meeting devoted to cigarette technology and smoke
chemistry covered topics such as filter production am performance, effects
of processing on tobacco, mainstream and ambient smoke, flavour chemistry
and analytical procedures. Particularly in this part of the meeting, some
of', the papers were excellent. They were presented mainly by suppliers
(Eastman, Celanese) and major US tobacco car=nies.
Me standard of the. work was high in chemistry and physics. Complicated
uIr the" ticat am els were presented for prediction of f ilter performance,
behaviour of ient smoke in roans, moisture characteristics of blends
dogy wmessi g.
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BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 21 April 1999

-2-
The emphasis being put on sane of the research work by Reynolds and FM, in
terms of capital and effort, was considerable. Particularly striking were
two examples: Reynolds have invested very heavily in ambient studies (and
presumably work on sidestream products). Their set-up is in advance of
our own. 7he PM papers on determination of air space within cigarettes and
water adsorption studies showed an apparent interest in tobacco structure
and its physical properties in relation to processing control and develop-
ment. Scientifically, the work presented in these areas would stand scrutiny
at a very high level.
Ihe presentations were made by senior, experienced professional scientists
of long standing. By comparison, GR&DC/Imperial presentations were more
limited in scientific content.
One assumes that within US tobacco laboratories there is more research work
being carried out of at least equal standard to that which was described at
this public meeting. It will be interesting to read the conclusions of the
recently-completed reviews of technical competence of BAT vs competition
activities to see whether they have picked up up any differences in approach
to R&D.
RICHARD BINNS
On a pDint of detail:
Hoffmann and his group continue their work on tobacco-specific nitrosamines,
now including analysis of sidestream. A study of a camnercially-available
low sidestream product had revealed the highest observed levels of dimethyl
nitrosamine ("this highly biologically-ective canpound") seen in the side-
stream smoke of any cigarette tested in the Valhalla laboratory.
9th October, 1985
Circulated, for information, to:
--*iWr. A. L. Heard
Dr. R.R. Baker .1h.
Mr. H. F. Dymond -Ch.
r\.>
Mr. R.W. Hedge
Dr. T. IM-11
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 21 April 1999