Physical Characterization of Cigarette Smoke Aerosol Generated from a Walton Smoke Machine

Mainstream cigarette smoke generated using a Walton smoking machine and Kentucky 2R1 research cigarettes was studied. Results showed that puff volume and total particulate matter were consistent after the first puff, with average values of 35.6 cm³ and 3.37 mg, respectively. The particle size distribution, measured with a multijet cascade impactor, was not related to butt length or relative humidity (≤95%), but was strongly dependent on the aging time. Based on simple monodisperse coagulation, the mass median aerodynamic diameter was calculated to be 0.45 μm at a dilution ratio of 21.7. Using a technique based on the dimensional change of collected droplet particles at various viewing angles of a scanning electron microscope, the count median diameter was estimated to be 0.22 μm. These values were in good agreement with those reported by others. The results suggest that there is a dilution value critical to the rapid evaporation and final particle size of the cigarette smoke aerosol. Once reaching this value, further dilution has little effect on the final particle size. By using the derived mass concentration and size distribution, the particle density, number concentration, and coagulation coefficient of the cigarette smoke aerosol were estimated to be 1.12 g/cm³, 7.20 × 109 particles/cm³, and 6.64 × 10 ^?10 cm³/s respectively. Solid particles > 1 μm were found in the first few puffs. These were considered to consist of tobacco debris.