Tobacco Documents Online

I n's~x.a t, t I r,i! LOW N•SJR LOW N.S.R. LOW NS'.R. LOW N:S1R: TJ'N' T/N T/N T/N Smokdng 1111 R.S•R.*HEVER SMOKEOR(GULARLr Figure 8 Total deaths in terms of' mortality ratios for low TIN' smokers and subjects who bad never smoked regulariy. N:S:R. = never smoked regularly. It is quite apparent that' reduction in the tar and nicotine content of cigarette smoke did not make cigarette smoking safe for the men and women in this analysis, all of whom were over the age of 40 in 1'959. Cigarettes with reduced tar and' nicotine were not introduced untill the mid - ~.: 195i0's (following the restrospective studies of Wynder an& Graham ['1954], ``'DoIl and Hill ['1952], and Levinet ai. ['I9501). Almost all of the male cigarette smokers and the great majority of the female cigarette smokers in our'study began smoking cigarettes long before that date. Therefore the subjects classi- 6ed.here as low T/N'cigarette smokers were, with few exceptions„persons who. 5tnoked'high T/Normedium, T/'N cigarettes for many years and then switched to lomrTjN! cigarettes. It appears that' by so doing, they somewhat reduced the serious risks they incurred by smoking. (Thi's does not apply to the relativcly few persons who at the same time increased the number of cigarettes they smoked per day.) Therefore we think it fair to say that switching from high T/N to low TIN cigarettes was at least a small step in the right' direction fmr' those who continued to smoke cigarettes. Those who, quit smoking fared con- siderably better. W'hat' of youths who have not yet taken up the habit of cigarette smoking? They would be well advised never to do so. However, in spite of a11'the warn- ings, many thousands of young people do in fact take up the habit. The'threat tb~ thefuture~ healthofthos.ewhomake'this youthfui'd'ecision wouldi be at Ieastsomewhat reduced if high T/N'cimarettes were removedifrom the market. We wiil, end with a word of cautiont In prodtacing cigarettes withi extremely .Yotier. This material may be arotaated brcooyrixht law. (TiMe 17 UJS code) 1

LOW N.S.R. LOW N1S.R. LOW N.S.R: LOW N.S.R. T/ N T2 N T/'N Ti/ N N:S:R.-NEVER SMOKED R'EGUILA'RLY' Figure 9 L,ung, cancer mortality ratios for low T/N smokers and subjects who had, never smoked regularly. I*I.S.R. = never smoked regularly,: lit'tle tar and, nicotine, some manufacturers may use additives for flavor or f or some other purpose. In our opinion, both additives and the cigarette smokee condensate (tar) should be tested for carcinogenicity before such cigarettes: are put on the market. Acknowledgment L. Garfinkel; H. Stidman and E. A. Lewassisted in'thisstudy. REFERENCES Bross, I.D.J. and R. Gibsom 1968, Risks of lung cancer in smokers who switch to filter cigarettes. Arn.1. Public flealah 58:33®6. Doll, R and A.B. HiIL 1952. A study of'the aetiology of carcinoma' of the lung. Br. Med:1. 2:1271. N 0 Do11, R., F.A. Jones and F. Pygott. 1958, Effect of'smoking,on the production and 0 maintenance of gastric and'duodenal ulcers. Lancetc657. Levin, M.L., H. Goldsteim and! P.R. Gerhardt. 1950. Cancer and'tobacco smoking: ~ A preliminary report.l. Am. Med. Assoc. 143:336. ~' U.S. Congress. 1967. IHearings before the Consumer Subcommittee of the Com+ mittee on Comrnerce. Senate, 90th Congress, August 23, 24, 1967, p. 7. N ~. Wynder, E.L and E.A. Graham. 1950, Tobacco smoking as a possible etiologic ~ factor in bronchogenic carcinoma. l. Am. Med. Assoc. 143:329. ~ Wynder,, E.L.,, K. Mabuchi and! EJ. Beattie, Jr. 1970. The epidemiology of lung cancer.l. Am. Med: Assvc. 213:2221. i i4ntiee: Thia rtuteriat may be protected Ibrco ~ . PYdShtltw: ~tlr17 US code) P