In vitro Mutagenicity Tests on Whole Smoke of Selected Imported and Domestic Cigarettes

Thirty cigarette brands available in market were sampled and 41 chemical components in cigarette smoke were analyzed under intensive smoking regime,and whole smoke Ames tests were conducted. The results indicated that:1)All types of cigarette showed mutagenicity on TA98 with mutation ratios (MR values) over 2.0 in 10% S9 activation system at certain dosages;2) The mutagenicity of domestic Virginia type cigarettes was lower than that of imported blended type cigarettes, and their difference was statistically significant;3)Between cigarette types,the difference of specific activity per unit tar was of no significance; 4)The yields of genetoxic harmful components might affect the mutagenicity of fresh cigarette smoke.