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I. Cowpensatory Smoking 



It has be«n recognized repeatedly that low tar and nicotine cigarettes 

 are not necessarily safer because the smoker tends to smoke more 

 cigarettes to compensate for the lowered tar and nicotine content: 



Public Health Service : 



"...health care providers should warn smokers switching to a low-tar 

 and ,iicotlne cigarette not to incre^.se their dosage, as many smokers 

 increase the number of cigarettes they smoke and Inhale more deeply 

 after switching to a lower yield 'Igarette. There 1$ no safe 

 cigarette, no safe level of con5<jfr.pt1on, and such compensatory 

 tjeK'"lor may negate any advantage of switching to a lower yield 

 product, and may even increase the health risk." *■ 



"The potential benefit to the Individual consumer who might shift to 

 the lower tar and nicotine cigarette would be negated If this shift 

 were accompanied by an Increase 1n the number of cigarettes 

 consumed..." '™ 



Surgeon General ; 



"...many smokers change their smoking behavior when they switch to 

 the lower-yield brand. In an attempt to satisfy nicotine or taste 

 demands, however, they may compensate by smoking more cigarettes 

 than before, puffing more frequently. Inhaling more deeply and for a 

 longer period. This could lead to Increased atherogenesis through 

 the greater Intake of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and nitrous 

 oxide, all constituents of cigarette smoke." '"^ 



"If th« saoker compensated for reduced yield by Increasing the 

 number of cigarettes, the depth of inhalation, or the volume or 

 frtqiMncy of puffs, a reduction In 'tar' might not result In a 

 reduced saoke exposure. The possible increase In the average number 

 of cigtrtttcs sacked by each smoker and the possibility that the 

 depth of Inhalation and puff volume may also have increased as the 

 average 'tar' yield of the cigarette has declined raise a real 

 concern that the shift to the use of lower 'tar' cigarettes may not 

 have resulted In a proportionate drop in smoker exposure." '"^ 



National Academy of Sciences : 



"The weight of recent studies that we have reviewed supports the 

 idea that nicotine dependence Is a very important component of 

 smoking behavior and that most heavy cigarette smokers, regardless 

 of brand, tend to maintain high nicotine levels." '"^ 



