TSNA Task Force for Air-cured Tobacco

Report from 2003 CORESTA Agro/Phyto Meeting

Bucharest , Romania

The TSNA Task Force committee meeting convened at 3 pm on October 13, 2003 chaired by Dr. Gary Palmer, University of Kentucky .  Dr. Lowell Bush, University of Kentucky , USA gave a report on Objective 1: Develop a standardized nornicotine screening protocol so that baseline levels of nornicotine are comparable in tobacco seed varieties used by investigators.  Dr. Bush reported that three cured powder tobacco samples were supplied to six laboratories for nicotine and nornicotine analysis.  Those collaborating on the project included Christian de Roton (Altadis Institut du Tabac), Hitoshi Saito (Japan Tobacco International), Cliff Bennett (US Smokeless Tobacco), Cui Mingwu (Profigen), Harold Burton ( University of Kentucky )and Lowell Bush ( University of Kentucky ).  Each laboratory used their normal routine protocol for analysis.  Dr. Bush tabulated the results and checked deviation and variability across all laboratories.  He reported that the standard deviation and coefficient of variation were low enough among laboratories that developing a standard screening protocol is not necessary.  Other collaborators concurred with these findings and the committee agreed not to recommend that the Scientific Committee adopt a standardized nornicotine screening protocol.

Gary Palmer gave a report on the progress of Objective 2: Develop guidelines or suggested critical survey questions for farmer practice surveys so that results can be compared within and between tobacco origins.  George Scott, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, USA , and subcommittee chair for Objective 2 was not able to attend the meeting, but sent a proposed survey draft.  Participants should send input to George.  A final survey will be presented to the Scientific Commission for their approval.

Gary Palmer gave a report on Objective 3:  Develop a collaborative study to investigate standard deviation for moisture content within farmer marketing packages among origins.  David Conner, formerly with Standard Commercial Tobacco Company and subcommittee chair has changed employers and will no longer be associated with CORESTA.  Dr. Lowell Bush presented information regarding marketing package evaluation and will provide a protocol for meeting the objective.

Christian de Roton, Altadis – Institut du Tabac, France and subcommittee chair reported on Objective 4 : Develop a collaborative study, which uses hobo loggers or a suitable substitute to collect curing conditions and possible impact of TSNA levels for tobaccos of diverse origins and curing environments. Attempt to standardize placement of equipment and sample protocols.  The protocol for the 2003 collaborative study was as follows:  Using a high nornicotine line of Burley or Dark Air Cured tobacco conduct studies in 5-10 different curing barns.  Place hobo-loggers at representative points in the barn, at the upper-middle leaf level.  Place another hobo-logger outside the barn or, failing that; take the data from the nearest weather station.  Record dates of harvest, end of yellowing, end of browning, and end of cure.  Observe the appearance of molds (white, grey, etc.), darkening, fermentation, and other curing incidents at taking down.  Take a representative sample of 2-3 upper-middle leaves from 15-20 plants closely surrounding the hobo-logger.   Freeze dry or use force air at 35oC, grind, separate midrib and lamina and analyze for TSNA and, if possible, NO2 and nornicotine.  Obtain another and larger sample of upper-middle leaves surrounding the hobo-logger to evaluate the grade and quality.

Collaborators included Cliff Bennet (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco), Hitoshi Saïto (Japan Tobacco International), Francisco Palacio (Colombiana de Tabaco S.A. ), Colin Fisher (Universal Leaf Tobacco Company); and Christian de Roton (ITB, in collaboration with ANITTA).  Due to adverse weather, Colin Fisher was unable to harvest or participate in the study.  Collaborators used two types, burley and dark air-cured, four varieties, TR Madole, Burley 21, Kitakami 1 and BB16A, and two types of curing facilities, conventional, 1 or 2 tier, and a plastic shed.  JTI used primed burley while all others were stalk cut.  Reports of results will follow as they become available.

In a supplemental meeting to clarify some issues, the group decided to use ms KY 14 x L8 in next years test to facilitate data comparison and to pinpoint curing differences.  Sample handling is a potential confounding source of TSNA accumulation prompting the group to recommend analysis by each collaborator where possible.   Dr. Harold Burton offered to run samples for those unable to do their own.