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Glycerol, and 1,2-propylene glycol are the humectants most commonly used by the tobacco industry. They are found in a variety of tobacco products and are often present at high levels (~2–5 % w/w). While humectants are generally considered safe, they may serve as precursors in the formation of harmful carbonyl compounds. A selective, precise, and sensitive method for the quantification of several humectants in cigarette filler was developed. The method's sample clean-up is a two-step process consisting of a mechanical extraction, followed by solid phase extraction. Individual humectants are separated, identified, and measured using liquid chromatography coupled to a single quadrupole mass spectrometer as the detector (LC/MS). Detection limits were 0.105, 0.575, and 0.039 mg/cigarette for glycerol, 1,2-propylene glycol and triethylene glycol, respectively. The quantification range for these analytes was 0.4–75.0 mg/cigarette. Twenty-seven brands of domestic commercial cigarettes were evaluated to assess typical levels of humectants in the tobacco filler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article on the analysis of humectants in tobacco products using gas chromatography (GC).

Water activity of gingerbread is very important for keeping the product freshness and shelf life. Water activity is influenced by composition, water content and temperature. The water content of gingerbread could vary according with storage condition. i.e. rH. 11 gingerbread samples were analysed. The water content and water activity lies between 7.0 and 12.6% and respectively 0.590 and 0.715. The sorption isotherms were determined at 30°C by gravimetric method. The moisture sorption is influenced by composition, especially sweeteners and humectants. Honey and invert sugar have the same impact on gingerbread higroscopicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]