Retained Solvents in Labels and Crush-Proof Boxes

This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch funded from 2006 - 2009 by the American Legacy Foundation.

The migration of solvents into cigarettes from their packaging can evidently pose a problem. Solvents are used in the manufacture of cigarette packaging. This R.J. Reynolds inter-office memo acknowledges that the presence of "retained solvents" in cigarettes from their packaging creates "throat sting, harshness and an aftertaste," making it evident that such solvent residues are inhaled by consumers. No mention is made in the document of the possible health effects on consumers of the repeated inhalation of pyrolized (burned) solvent residues that have migrated from their packaging into their cigarettes.

Key quotes

A meeting was held in the R&D Packaging Technology Conference Room on april 18, 1984 to discuss the possibility of reducing the maximum level of retained solvents allowed in labels and crush-proof box blanks... Dr. John Woods and Mr. Bob Shore presented an overview of why retained solvents were a product detriment. They explained that when solvent odors are detected in labels and said labels are used to package cigarettes, throat sting, harshness and an aftertaste result. It was also noted that when smooth tasting MARLBORO cigarettes are used to replace WINSTONs in a package with known levels of retained solvents, the Marlboro also attains stingy, harsh character and an aftertaste.

Title Retained solvents in labels and crush-proof boxes
Author Robert L. Oglesby, R.J. Reynolds
Date 19840427 (April 27, 1984)
Type Letter
Bates 500906245/6246
Collection RJ Reynolds
Pages 2
URL: http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/yqt59d00

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