We compared levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), total Nnitroso compounds (NOC) and NOC precursors (NOCP) in tobacco of Moldovan cigarettes, American cigarettes marketed in Moldova, and in some tobacco types commonly used for manufacturing of Moldovan cigarettes. Total NOC levels in all tobacco samples analyzed strongly correlated with TSNA (r = 0.66; P < 0.0001). The mean level of total NOC in Moldovan cigarettes (23 ± 13 nmol/g tobacco) was lower than in American brands (63 ± 30 nmol/g tobacco). The levels of NOCP in Moldovan cigarette tobacco were similar to those in Americanbrand cigarettes: 29000 ± 30000 (SD) nmol/g and 33000 ± 28000 (SD) nmol/g tobacco, respectively. The levels of TSNA and NOC were also different in two major groups of Moldovan cigarettes: traditional Moldovan brands made from sun-cured tobaccos contained reduced amounts of TSNA and NOC as compared to local blended brands. Therefore, we compared TSNA and NOC in sun-cured, Virginia and Burley tobaccos (the main constituents of blended cigarettes) grown in Moldova. Flue-cured Virginia, comprising up to 60% of blended cigarettes, contained the highest levels of TSNA (0.95 μg NNN per g tobacco and 0.15 μg NNK per g tobacco), NOC (9.4 nmol/g tobacco), and NOCP (139000 nmol/g tobacco). These findings demonstrate that current technologies involved in the manufacturing of American-blended cigarettes create conditions that favor more complete N-nitrosation of alkaloids and other tobacco constituents. Therefore, the reduction of carcinogenic TSNA levels in blended cigarettes is possible and requires immediate measures.