BC Ministry of Health
Document 32452
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THE .DESIGN OF LOW DELIVERY CIGARETTES
(WITH REGARD TO SMOKER COMPENSATION)
FtL.E .......................
Long term behavioural studies (reviewed by Weber)
suggest that smokers can accept progressive small reductions
in the delivery of cigarettes without major compensation.
Ep~demiological studies in the U.K. (Dean, Lee, Todd and
Wicken) and in the O.S.A. (Hammond, Garfinkel, Seidman and
Lew) are consistent with this view.
There have been numerous short term studies undertaken
both by independent research workers (Guillerm, Russell, etc.)
and by some tobacco companies. All of these, studies suggest
that, while some smokers compensate for changes in the delivery
of smoke components, others are relatively unaffected.
However, it is uncommon to find smokers who fully compensate
for changes in delivery, particularly when they change to
brands with lower deliveries. Although it is often assumed
that the delivery of nicotine is the determining factor for
those smokers who do compensate, the amount of smoke in a puff,
or the perceived level of taste, could also be important.
A collaborative study planned by BAT and Dr. M.A.H. Russell is
hoped to produce some definite evidence about the exact r01e
of nicotine in determining smoking behaviour.
These observations suggest two approaches to the ~esign
of low delivery cigarettes which will have favourable league
table positions, satisfy health authorities wi~h regard to the
delivery of certain smoke components and w~ich will satisfy
smokers. In both approaches a progressive reduction in delivery
is suggested.
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
00290424

- 2 -
The first approach is the conventional one of reducing
the deliveries of all smoke components, with an emphasis
on gas phase components. This approach is appropriatefor
those smokers who do not compensate for progressive small
reductions in delivery and who find such products acceptable.
In order for the diluent action to be effective throughout
the ~ig~rette, the use of a ventilated filter tip is the
method of choice for achieving low deliveries, while smokers'
dislike ot cigarettes with high draw resistance'indicates
a reduction in pressure drop, compared to current products.
The second approach is the reduction of the delivery
of tar and vapour phase components relative to nicotine
(assuming that this compound is important for at least some
smokers). This second approach could ultimately give a
tar
cigarette with a nicotine ratio of 5, on the lines of
Project ROMANY. However, the tobacco blend required for such
designs precludes large scale production (and also possibly
acceptance by smokers) and a more realistic approach would
be to aim for the following targets:
Tar 7-8mg, Nicotine I mg, Carbon Monoxide 5mg.
Again, the use of a ventilated filter tip is recommended.
This cigarette would have somewhat different taste
characteristics from current products, and for this reason
it seems particularly important that smokers should..be
acclimatised to the product progressively.
The provision of acceptable taste in low delivery
cigarettes is a problem requiring more research within BAT.
Taste might'be more important for the low nicotine/low tar
design than for the normal nicotine/low tar product, because
the latter cigarette could be quite high in impact.
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
00290425

- 3 -
Research is also required to study the interaction
between the smoker and any optioDs in the design of these
low delivery products since the particular way in which
a cigarette is designed to give low deliveries will influence
the way the cigarette is smoked. Smokers will not necessarily
obtain the same amount ofsmoke from two products with
identical league table deliveries achieved by different means.
Although marketing, considerations will influence the
lower limits towards which deliveries will be reduced, some
of the effects of smoking, e.g. the maintenance of performance
in difficult tasks, appear to be due to nicotine itself, and
a minimum nicotine intake must be achieved before such effects
occur.' The minimum effective nicotine level will depend very
much on the idiosyncrasies of individual smokers, but we
should aim at a cigarette delivering at least 0.5mg of nicotine.
With appropriate design, including moderately low draw resistance,
smokers will be able to obtain up to 1 mg nicotine from such a
cigarette.
.0
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
00290426
