"Light" Cigarettes
Smoking & How to Quit Home > What About Other Forms? > "Light" Cigarettes
You may think that "light" cigarettes aren't as bad as regular cigarettes. Think again! Light cigarettes put smokers at the same risk for smoking-related health problems as regular cigarettes.
Some cigarette packs say that light cigarettes have lower tar and nicotine. Don't let these claims fool you! Tobacco companies use smoking machines to figure out the amount of tar and nicotine in the cigarettes. These machines "smoke" every brand of cigarettes the same way. However, people don't smoke cigarettes the same way machines do. People who smoke light cigarettes may inhale more deeply, take more puffs, or smoke extra cigarettes to satisfy their nicotine craving. As a result, they may inhale just as much tar, nicotine, and other chemicals as people who smoke regular cigarettes.
Additional Information on "Light" Cigarettes:
Publications
The Truth About "Light" Cigarettes: Questions and Answers — This publication debunks the myth that "light" cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes. It provides information on the health effects of smoking "light" cigarettes in comparison to regular cigarettes and explains how the cigarettes get the "light" rating. Resources to help smokers quit are also provided. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/light-cigarettes
The Dark Side of Your Light Cigarettes (Copyright © The New York State Smokers' Quitline) — This site explains why light cigarettes are not safer than smoking regular cigarettes. http://www.nysmokefree.com/newweb/pageview.aspx?p=4040
Questions About Smoking, Tobacco, and Health (Copyright © ACS) — This publication answers common questions about health and tobacco use. It provides information on the various health effects of smoking, addiction, and the harmful chemicals cigarettes contain. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2x_Questions_About_Smoking_Tobacco_and_Health.asp...
What's So Bad About Tobacco? (Copyright © ACS) — This web page provides fact sheets about various forms of tobacco use. Included is information on the health impact of tobacco on women and children specifically. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/ped_10_1.asp?sitearea=PED
Organizations
-
National Cancer Institute, NIH, HHS
-
Office on Smoking and Health, NCCDPHP, CDC, HHS
-
American Lung Association
-
Prevent Cancer Foundation
= Indicates Federal Resources
Content last updated March 19, 2008.
|