569 



breakthroughs were expanded tobacco and air dilution through perforation of cigarette 

 filters. Expanded tobacco resulted from the search for ways to reduce the volume of 

 tobacco in each cigarette in order to reduce "tar" and nicotine yields. The tobacco is 

 "puffed" or expanded in order to allow the same amount of tobacco to occupy more space, 

 much like popping popcorn. As a result, each cigarette is filled with less tobacco, there is 

 less tobacco available to be burned, and the yields of "tar" and nicotine are therefore 

 reduced. Reynolds Tobacco developed expanded tobacco and was the first to introduce it 

 commercially, in 1968. In fact, Reynolds Tobacco licensed this process to others in the 

 industry for commercial use throughout the world. 



In the late 1960s, scientists discovered that perforating the cigarette filter allows air 

 to mix with the mainstream smoke, thereby diluting the smoke and reducing the total yields 

 of "tar," and nicotine. Air dilution also reduces the burning temperature of tobacco and 

 causes less tobacco to be burned per puff, thereby further reducing the "tar" and nicotine 

 yields. Perforated filters were first sold commercially in about 1972. By 1981, 

 approximately 50% of all cigarette brands sold had perforated filters.* 



By 1981, the tobacco content by weight of the average cigarette had declined by 

 23.8% through the use of expanded tobacco.* In some ultra low-"tar" brands, expanded 



* Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Health 

 Consequences of Smoking: TTie Changing Cigarette. A Report of the Surgeon 

 General 209-10 (1981) ("1981 Surgeon General's Report"). 



* Id. at 209-10. 



