Amount of nicotine and carbon monoxide inhaled by smokers of low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes
R. V. Ebert, M. E. McNabb, K. T. McCusker and S. L. Snow
In 76 smokers, correlations between plasma nicotine and alveolar carbon
monoxide levels of the individual smoker and the nicotine and CO yields of
his cigarette were very poor. In 24 smokers of low-nicotine, low-tar
cigarettes, mean alveolar CO levels did not differ from those of smokers of
regular cigarettes. Mean plasma nicotine levels were lower in smokers of
low-nicotine cigarettes, but a wide overlap of individual values occurred.
The implication that an individual shifting to ultra-low-tar cigarettes
reduces risks of cardiopulmonary disease is unwarranted.
