For many, smoking is a status symbol and a style statement. The more the brand appeal of the cigarette, the more bulkier the purse of the smoker, so it is believed. Smokers are heard boasting away about their cherished brand - its texture, aroma and or smoothness.
A category of cigarettes that finds favour by avid smokers for their smoothness is the menthol cigarettes. They are much sought after by avid smokers as they help to disguise the harsh taste of tobacco and create a cool feeling in the mouth and throat.
But studies have shown this apparent coolness and smoothness trigger increased disease-incidence.
Specifically, a study titled 'Effect of menthol on the penetration of tobacco carcinogens and nicotine across porcine oral mucosa ex vivo,' published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research revealed that presence of menthol increased the flux of tobacco carcinogens.
Porcine buccal (BM) and floor of mouth (FM) mucosa permeability of tobacco-related nitrosamine, NNN was significantly increased with addition of menthol.
Menthol, a monocyclic terpene alcohol that occurs naturally in the plants of the Mentha species and is the major component of peppermint oil, improves taste in smoke and reduces its harshness.
This encourages deeper inhalation and longer retention of cigarette smoke in the lungs that, in turn, could increase tar exposure and the amount of tobacco carcinogens (TCs) entering the blood stream.
So beware all smokers, your cigarette may be 'cool', but there's no escaping the harshness of cancer.
Source: Nicotine & Tobacco Research
Image courtesy: Hispanically Speaking News
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