title: Misuse of "light" cigarettes by means of vent blocking.
abstract: Best-selling "light" cigarettes (9-12 mg tar, by FTC method; Federal Trade Commission, 1990) generally employ filter vents to reduce standard tar and nicotine yields. Earlier research on "ultra light" cigarettes (1-4 mg tar) showed that filter vents were blocked by human smokers leading to dramatic increases in tar and nicotine yields. An objective indicator of vent blocking was applied to a sample of 158 discarded light cigarette butts, and results indicated extreme vent blocking in 47% 27% ( +/- 8, 95% CI), some vent blocking in 26% ( +/- 8), and no vent blocking in 47% ( +/- 8). Cigarette consumers need to be informed of the risks of vent blocking as a countermeasure to the marketing of light cigarettes to health-conscious smokers.
authors.affiliation: Program in Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802-6508.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Kozlowski
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pillitteri
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013638:Tars / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013638:Tars; D009538:Nicotine