[Do light cigarettes decrease the risk of smoking?]

Abstract

Since the introduction of filter cigarettes in the sixties and early seventies, a reduction of the risk for lung cancer could be observed (20 to 40%). However, a further reduction of tobacco smoke ingredients by smoking modern light cigarettes (tar content below 10 mg) is questionable because of compensation of smoking behaviour by the individual smoker. A further reduction of risk to contract lung cancer by smoking light cigarettes therefore is not probable and supportive data are not available. Smoking of light cigarettes is not likely to result in a significant decrease of the risk for myocardial infarction or cardiac death as well as for chronic lung diseases. Promotion of light cigarettes by the tobacco industry is suggesting that each smoker could significantly diminish his risks just by selecting the right type of cigarettes. This is not supported by long term clinical studies. Such promotion, however, provides the smoker with further arguments to continue smoking. Ultra light cigarettes (tar content below 3 mg) could potentially diminish the risk but are hardly accepted by current smokers. Despite strong promotion and advertisement ultra light cigarettes had not been successful on the market.