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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
Tel: 1-800-CDC-INFO
(1-800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
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2000 Surgeon General's Report—Reducing Tobacco Use
Tobacco Products
Disclaimer
Highlights
Overview of Tobacco Products
- More than 4,000 chemical compounds have been identified in tobacco
smoke. Of these, at least 43 are known to cause cancer.
- Current tobacco product regulation requires cigarette manufacturers
to disclose levels of magnify tar and nicotine. Smokers receive
very little information regarding chemical constituents in tobacco smoke,
however, and the use of terms such as "light" and "ultra light" on packaging
and in advertising may be misleading.
- Cigarettes with low tar and nicotine contents are not substantially
less hazardous than higher-yield brands. Consumers may be misled by
the implied promise of reduced toxicity underlying the marketing of
such brands.
- Early data showed a lower cancer risk from low-tar cigarettes; however,
more recent data suggest otherwise. Lower-yield cigarettes may be somewhat
better than very high-yield cigarettes; but, when comparing full-flavor
cigarettes and current light cigarettes, there is no evidence to suggest
a lower cancer risk from the low-tar cigarettes.
Cigarette Additives
- Federal law (the Comprehensive Smoking Education Act of 1984 and
the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986) requires
cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers to submit a list of ingredients
added to tobacco to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Hundreds of ingredients are used in the manufacture of tobacco products.
Additives make cigarettes more acceptable to the consumer—they make
cigarettes milder and easier to inhale, improve taste, and prolong burning
and shelf life.
- In 1994, six major cigarette manufacturers reported 599 ingredients
that were added to the tobacco of manufacture cigarettes. Although,
these ingredients are regarded as safe when ingested in foods, some
may form carcinogens when heated or burned.
- Knowledge about the impact of additives in tobacco products is negligible
and will remain so as long as brand-specific information on the identity
and quantity of additives is unavailable.
Smokeless Additives
- In 1994, 10 manufacturers of smokeless tobacco products released
a list of additives used in their products. The additives list contained
562 ingredients approved for foods by the FDA.
- Moist snuff products with low nicotine content and pH levels have
a smaller proportion of free nicotine. In contrast, moist snuff products
with high nicotine content and pH levels have a higher proportion of
free nicotine.
- The epidemiology of moist snuff use among teenagers and young adults
indicates that most novices start with brands having low levels of free
nicotine and then "graduate" to brands with higher levels.
- Sweeteners and flavorings, such as cherry juice concentrate, apple
juice, chocolate liqueur, or honey are used in various smokeless tobacco
products. As with manufactured cigarettes, these additives increase
palatability and may increase the use of smokeless tobacco, at least
among novices.
Disclaimer: Data and findings provided on this page reflect the content of
this particular Surgeon General's Report. More recent information may exist
elsewhere on the Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site (for example, in fact sheets,
frequently asked questions, or other materials that are reviewed on a regular
basis and updated accordingly).
Page last updated August 9, 2000