Tobacco Documents Online

Smoking Behaviour Low Delivery Cigarettes Report No Rd 1440 Restricted

Abstract

This 1977 report from British American Tobacco (BAT) entitled Smoking Behavior (Low Delivery Cigarettes), reports on a study that examined the changes in the smoking behavior of smokers who switch from high tar and nicotine cigarettes to "light" cigarettes. The human subjects used in the experiment were employees of BAT's Research and Development department, so all results were kept completely internal. The report clearly shows a marked increase in the intensity with which smokers smoke the "low tar" brands:

"Measurements show that both low delivery brands were smoked...with a much greater intensity than the subjects' usual brand...Compared to machine smoking, on average about twice as much smoke was taken from each cigarette by the panel, in about half the time."

The report also shows BAT was aware of how smokers defeat the features of "light" cigarettes designed to dilute the smoke by entraining more air:

"...There were some observed abuses of the cigarette design...It was observed that at least one subject learned that by placing the cigarette further into the mouth, the ventilation holes could be covered up and smoke deliveries increased. It was also noted that the fingers used to hold the cigarettes could be conveniently placed to cover up some of the ventilation holes. One subject was seen to cover the ventilation holes with clear adhesive tape..."

The report also shows that BAT was aware that actual deliveries of tar and nicotine to the smoker from "light" cigarettes differed greatly from the measurements obtained by smoking machines, and that the smokers were taking in much higher amounts of smoke constituents from "light" cigarettes than the machines revealed:

"...The results show that the human smokers used in this test have taken more than twice as much smoke (by volume) from these cigarettes as is taken by a [smoking] machine operating under standard conditions. This is equivalent to about half as much again as was taken from the more usual brand for these smokers..."

This report appears to confirm the recent verdict in Illinois that concluded that smokers were deceived about the relative safety of smoking low-tar, or "light" cigarettes. .

Fields

Quotes

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Two very low delivery (1.0 ug TPM, 0.1 mg nicotine) cigarette brands, Reemtsma No. l from Germany and Now from the U.S.A. have been smoked by a panel of smokers recruited from the staff at Group R & D Centre, Southampton. Each brand was smoked exclusively for one week. Measurements show that both low delivery brands were smoked in a similar way and with a much greater intensity than the subjects' usual brand (mean delivery 25mg TPM, 1.6 mg nicotine). Compared to machine smoking, on average about twice as much smoke was taken from each cigarette by the panel, in about half the time. Although the intensity of smoking individual cigarettes was increased, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was not markedly altered.

[From Page 15, Bates No. 105456349]

...All the smokers in this test usually smoke flue-cured tobacco cigarettes with nicotine and TMP levels at least six times higher than were offered in this test. The change to the low delivery German and American brands was therefore rather dramatic...

...Tthere were some observed abuses of the cigarette design. Thesse tookplace outside the behavioural laboratory. It was observed that at least one subject learned that by placing the cigarette further into the mouth, the ventilation holes could be covered up and smoke deliveries increased. It was also noted that the fingers used tohold the cigarettes could be conveniently placed to cover up some of the ventilation holes. One subject was seen to cover the ventilation holes with clear adhesive tape. All cigarette smoked in the laboratory were smoked through a holder which made the accidental or deliberate occlusion of the ventilation holes more difficult. One subject was,however, observed to hold the c£Sarette in front of the holder and may have partially blocked some of the ventilation ports. Reference to the individual lit draw resistance measurements show that any attempts to cover the ventilation holes with the fingers were not very successful.

A further observation...was that the incidence of double and multiple peaked puffs was much higher than had been observed previously...The second part of the peak was generally larger than the first. The reason for this behavioural change with very low delivery cigarettes may be that the smoker puffs initially to increase the glow and combustion temperature of the cigarette (in the smoker's terminology: to get it going) and uses the latter part of the puff to draw smoke for inhalation. It is also possible that the smoker does not experience the sensation he expects from the draw, so another puff is taken very rapidly to add to the first...

...The results show that the human smokers used in this test have taken more than twice as much smoke (by volume) from these cigarettes as is taken by a machine operating under standard conditions. This isequivalent to about half as much again as was taken from the more usual brand for these smokers.

The puff durations were longer from both the low delivery cigarettes and the volumes of the individual puffs were, on average, higher when compared with the usual brand or with machine smoking...

...In general it may be summarised that the subject smoked the low delivery brands more intensely than the usual brands, presumably in an attempt to draw more smoke and nicotine...

Company

British American Tobacco

Author

Creighton, Don, Ph.D. (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineer, U of Missouri)

Recipient

British American Tobacco Co.

Region

United Kingdom

Subject

low yield cigarette

Low Yield Cigarettes (Products)

low-tar cigarette

filter design

Ventilation (Design)

Effects—Smoking Behavior (Effects)

Behavioral Effects (Effects)