A Comparative Study of the Amount of Smoke Absorbed From Low Yield (‘Less Hazardous’) Cigarettes.

Summary Twenty‐two smokers (≥20 cigarettes per day with an average nominal nicotine delivery of .96 mg) were split randomly into treatment (16 subjects) and control (6 subjects) groups. During the first two‐week period (P 1 ), all subjects smoked their usual brand. For the next three weeks (P 2 ) the treatment group switched to a cigarette averaging .64 mg, while the control group switched to another brand within ± .1 mg of their usual brand. During the last three weeks (P3) the treatment group switched to a still lower vented cigarette (.38 mg nicotine) while the control group switched to another brand again having a nominal delivery within ± .1 mg of their usual brand. Both treatment and control groups were dissatisfied with their substitute brands suggesting that the dissatisfaction may be to the act of switching cigarettes rather than to any decrease in cigarette yield. The non‐invasive exposure measures employed (average number of cigarettes per day, daily mouth level nicotine intake, butt length, expired air carbon monoxide and saliva thiocyanate) demonstrated that the almost complete compensation of the treatment group was achieved with a combination of increased cigarette consumption, smoking intensity and depth of inhalation. Thus, the assumed health advantage for relatively heavy smokers switching to lower delivery cigarettes is largely offset by the tendency of smokers to compensate.