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Abstract: Eclipse is a cigarette that produces smoke by primarily heating, rather than burning, tobacco. The Eclipse heat source assembly employs a continuous filament glass mat jacket to insulate the heat source. The glass mat insulator is composed of continuous glass filaments and a binder. The purpose of this article is to address the potential toxicological significance of the continuous glass filaments under the conditions of intended use. Transfer data and the unique physical characteristics of the filaments demonstrate that significant exposure of the smoker will not occur. . .
In brief, exposure of Eclipse smokers to continuous glass filaments is extremely unlikely to occur at a level that may be construed to be of biological significance.
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This study was designed to determine if the Eclipse prototype 9-014 cigarettes, which use a special form of continuous glass filament (CGF) as an insulator around the carbon heat source, yield CGFs via mainstream smoke. . .
The low number of CGFs seen in the transfer data from this prototype studied, the unique physical characteristics of the filaments (e.g., controlled physical dimensions), and the absence of biological activity of similar glass filaments/fibers indicate that biologically significant exposure to the Eclipse smoker does not occur.
The low number of CGFs [continuous glass filaments] seen in the transfer data from this prototype studied, the unique physical characteristics of the filaments (e.g., controlled physical dimensions), and the absence of biological activity of similar glass filaments/fibers indicate that biologically significant exposure to the Eclipse smoker does not occur.An evaluation of RJR's data on Eclipse cigarettes by RJR's expert scientific panel has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but unfortunately, the full report doesn't seem to be easily/cheaply available. <I>Quantative Analysis of Potential Transfer of Continuous Glass Filament From Eclipse Prototype 9-014 Cigarettes</I>
The report of an expert scientific panel that has evaluated the data on Eclipse cigarettes has been published in Inhalation Toxicology (Vol. 12, Supplement 5, October 2000), a leading, peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Eclipse is a cigarette that produces smoke by primarily heating, rather than burning, tobacco. It was introduced by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJRT) in test market in Dallas/Fort Worth in April.
The chairman of the scientific panel is Dr. Bernard M. Wagner, an emeritus research professor of pathology at New York University Medical Center who has served as a member of the Committee on Toxicology of the National Academy of Sciences.
In 1999, at the request of RJRT, Dr. Wagner assembled the panel to evaluate, in an objective and critical manner, the extensive body of data generated by RJRT scientists, independent laboratories, and university scientists regarding the chemistry and biology, including human studies, of the Eclipse cigarette.
Allen says he was convinced enough by the health claims to give Eclipse a try. In accepting a carton of the cigarettes at the request of a reporter, he had to promise to set aside his usual brand, Merit Ultra Light, and try to smoke Eclipse exclusively for one week. That's how long the manufacturer thinks it takes for a motivated smoker to adjust to the new brand. . .
Smokers can't look to the federal Food and Drug Administration for help because the agency has no control over tobacco products.
Ironically, they might tune in to the very organizations that are trying to get them to quit smoking.The American Heart Association and other health groups have released a study of Eclipse that challenges its claim that smoke from the new brand contains fewer cancer-causing chemicals than other ultra-light brands.
In response, the company said it stands by its own tests that indicate cigarettes may be safer when the tobacco is heated rather than burned. . .
Not true, responds Seth Moskowitz, the company spokesman. "If someone wants to quit, we encourage them to quit."
It took only 14 hours to persuade Allen to quit smoking Eclipse. His brief experiment convinced him that a so-called healthier cigarette wasn't necessarily a good-tasting cigarette. He described it as tasting like burning plastic and burning paper. . .
Ellen Savage, a 30-year-old waitress, bowed out of her effort to smoke Eclipse after she had tried less than a pack. "To smoke these for a week would take discipline," says Savage, a smoker for 10 years. "If I had that kind of discipline, I wouldn't be smoking."
The tobacco maker says the Eclipse cigarette is ''the next best choice'' to quitting, and is 64 to 87 percent less carcinogenic than ultralights.
But state lab tests show that when compared to RJR's own low-tar Now King Size Hard Pack ultralights, Eclipse has 734 percent more acetaldehyde and 475 percent more acrolein, two cancer-causing agents.
''This is truly astonishing,'' said the DPH commissioner, Dr. Howard Koh. ''There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. It is an oxymoron. These health claims by RJR are so blatantly false.''
RJR, in a statement, disputed the state's findings, saying the tests are not valid because they involved ''a limited set of data.'' . .
Koh, along with three national tobacco control groups, is also asking the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Drug Administration to investigate the advertising claims by RJR.
This is truly astonishing. . . These health claims by RJR are so blatantly false. Howard Koh, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which did its own tests on <i>Eclipse</i>. Phillips, F.<I>'Non-burning' cigarette no healthier, study says / Finds high levels of some toxins</I>
The Massachusetts health department has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.'s claims that its unconventional Eclipse cigarette is potentially less hazardous for smokers, citing new research that shows Eclipse contains higher levels of some cancer-causing chemicals than two regular "ultralight" brands.
In a letter to FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky, the state health commissioner, Howard K. Koh, said data from a series of tests commissioned by his agency and performed by a private laboratory "indicate that the claims being made for Eclipse are not properly substantiated." Dr. Koh also is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state attorneys general to take action against Reynolds, which is promoting Eclipse in a Dallas test market as the "next best choice" to quitting smoking.
Among other things, the tests found smoke from Eclipse cigarettes contains higher levels of two carcinogens -- acrolein and a tobacco-specific nitrosamine known as NNK -- than smoke from the ultralight brands Now and Carlton. Eclipse also was found to have higher levels of three other carcinogens -- benzo(a)pyrene, acetaldehyde, and another nitrosamine known as NNN -- than Now. Eclipse has lower levels of those chemicals than Carlton. . .
Critics of the tobacco industry say the Massachusetts study highlights the need for federal regulation to establish standards for the development, testing, advertising and marketing of less hazardous cigarettes.
On Wednesday, October 4, the American Heart Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and other public health organizations will release the results of a new study contradicting R.J. Reynolds' claims that its new Eclipse cigarette presents smokers with less risk of cancer and other deadly diseases. Contrary to RJR's claims, the study found that Eclipse exposes smokers to higher amounts of cancer-causing chemicals than other brands already on the market.
The nation's top public-health organizations have asked the Food and Drug Administration to regulate Eclipse, the product that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is marketing as a less-risky cigarette.
Twenty-two groups, including the American Cancer Society and American Medical Association, sent an Aug. 1 petition to the FDA stating that Eclipse is a nicotine-delivery system, not a cigarette, making it eligible for government regulation. Cigarettes are exempt from any regulation. The FDA should therefore oversee its sale, marketing and distribution, especially since RJR began saying in April that Eclipse is less hazardous to smokers' health, the petition says.
''I'm concerned people will switch to Eclipse falsely believing it's been proven it will reduce their risk of disease,'' said Matthew Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, who wrote the letter. ''It is precisely these types of claims the FDA protects the American public against.'' . .
''The claim that Eclipse may present smokers with less risk of cancer, chronic bronchitis and possibly emphysema is fully supported by extensive scientific research,'' Moskowitz said.
The claim that Eclipse may present smokers with less risk of cancer, chronic bronchitis and possibly emphysema is fully supported by extensive scientific research. . . The calls for this (FDA) regulation come from the belief of some groups that 45 million adult Americans who choose to smoke should not have the option of purchasing and smoking cigarettes that may present less risk.RJR spokesman Seth Moskowitz, on health groups' petition for FDA regulation of Eclipse. Zawada, A., <I>Groups petition FTC (sic) for Eclipse regulation</I>
The company's decision to market Eclipse cigarettes entirely through an R.J. Reynolds Internet Web site and an 800 number sidesteps the state's efforts to keep the product out of the hands of minors. Reynolds says it has its own screening process to make certain purchasers are adults. But counter sales, with stiff penalties for violations, would have provided better safeguards. . .
But the bottom line in the overall presentation of Eclipse remains the same - regardless of how many scientific studies have been wrapped around the packaging.
All cigarettes pose health problems, including Eclipse. This product isn't the best answer to the estimated 400,000 Americans who die each year from smoking-related illnesses.
Re: "New cigarette still unsafe," Letters, April 30, by Cass Wheeler, CEO of the American Heart Association.
There are 45 million Americans who choose to smoke. Should they have to wait - perhaps for years - for a cigarette that may present them with less risk of cancer, chronic bronchitis and possibly emphysema than other cigarettes? . .
Our advertising makes it clear that Reynolds Tobacco does not claim that Eclipse presents less risk of cardiovascular disease or complications with pregnancy. There is some evidence suggesting that, compared to other cigarettes, Eclipse may pose less risk to smokers of developing cardiovascular disease. However, other evidence suggests that smokers who already have this disease may further increase their health risk by switching to Eclipse. We advise smokers to consult their doctors. . .
We welcome review of our scientific conclusions. In fact, the Eclipse Web site ( www.eclipse.ilrt.com) is designed in part for the medical and scientific communities.
The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for ensuring that the claims we make about Eclipse in our advertising are accurate, and we are prepared to substantiate the claims. We welcome review of our scientific conclusions. In fact, the Eclipse Web site (www.eclipse.rjrt.com) is designed in part for the medical and scientific communities.
Maybe Reynolds has something. Maybe it doesn't. But shouldn't a potential Most troubling, the ads may convince some people to switch rather than quit, or to take up smoking in the first place. Clearly, that's not in the public interest.
Unfortunately, we've been here before, and the public paid the price. . .
Maybe Reynolds has something. Maybe it doesn't. But shouldn't a potential breakthrough of such magnitude be weighed by an independent authority?
And shouldn't a cigarette face at least as much government oversight as a bran flake?