Alternative Cigarettes Yield Higher Nicotine DoseDecember 6, 2002
Research Summary
Additive-free and bidi cigarettes may seem less toxic than traditional cigarettes, but new research shows that users of alternative cigarettes receive a high dose of nicotine, according to a Dec. 3 press release from the Center for the Advancement of Health.In a study conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, 10 smokers were asked to smoke an unfiltered, additive-free American Spirit cigarette, a strawberry-flavored bidi, a non-flavored bidi, and one of their own preferred brands of conventional cigarettes.
For each type of cigarette or bidi smoked, researchers measured participants' plasma nicotine and exhaled carbon-monoxide levels.
The study found that participants had significantly higher plasma-nicotine levels after smoking the American Spirit cigarette or either type of bidi, compared to their own cigarette brand. Furthermore, the high nicotine levels lasted longer with the American Spirit cigarette.
In terms of exhaled carbon monoxide, levels dropped below those of the participants' own cigarette brands 15 minutes after smoking the American Spirit cigarette and the unflavored bidi.
"The results indicate that, contrary to the belief of many consumers, bidi and additive-free cigarettes deliver substantial amounts of nicotine and other toxic components of tobacco smoke," said Wallace Pickworth, lead researcher for the study.
The study's findings are published in the December 2002 issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
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