Act III, Scene 4: Hazardous When Burned

Picture of original clipping

"COUMARIN - (codes: KESCON, ROMINK, SYNLOR, SYNTHOS) Tobacco and food additive used in synthetic vanilla, chocolate and other confections for nearly 75 years - is found in tonka beans and was banned in 1954 because it could disguise unpleasant odors and cause liver damage in rats and dogs."

"Pesticides and Potentially Hazardous Additives," 1327.01, p. 7

Among the many lists that B&W wrote up during the eighties were several dealing with the additives in cigarettes, which had never been publicly disclosed, and which some B&W scientists worried could cause cancer when burned.

The lists contain everything from cocoa (code named BINNET) to chemical additives like propylene glycol (code name GRELANTER). Also listed is coumarin, blamed as a possible carcinogen in animal studies, that the company admits was used until recently in B&W's pipe tobacco.


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