Harmful health effects
Guargum is generally regarded as safe for use in food and
cosmetics. However, this does not suggest it is safe when
inhaled from smoking cigarettes. When a cigarette is burnt,
the guar gum present produces several toxic compounds
that are either well-known to cause cancer in humans (e.g.
formaldehyde, benzo[a]pyrene and benzene) or thought to
possibly cause cancer in humans (e.g. acetaldehyde and
styrene) as defined by the International Agency for Research
on Cancer (a leading expert cancer organisation).
Furthermore, the use of guar gum may be indirectly harmful
due to the formation of compounds called aldehydes (e.g.
acetaldehyde), which can make cigarettes more addictive
by enhancing the addictive potential of nicotine. Aldehydes
are very reactive and produce other compounds such as the
substance harman, which can also make cigarettes more
addictive due to its mood-enhancing effect on the brain.
Some of the compounds formed when guar gum is burnt
have a distinctive flavour. For example, diacetyl is one of the
substances produced and has a butterscotch flavour, which
can make a cigarette more appealing due to the improved
flavour of the smoke. 2-Furfural is also formed and has an
odour and taste that is described as sweet, woody, bready,
and caramel-like. Therefore, these compounds help make a
cigarette more attractive by imparting a pleasant flavour to
the cigarette smoke. This can ultimately lead to more cigarettes
being smoked and thus greater exposure harm due to
the toxic substances in cigarette smoke.