573 



news to anyone familiar with tobacco products or to anyone who has reviewed the extensive 

 "tar" and nicotine reports published by the FTC. 



Reynolds Tobacco's cigarettes contain approximately one and one-half to two and 

 one-half percent nicotine, depending upon the tobacco blend. When burned, these 

 cigarettes yield varying amounts of "tar" and nicotine. 'Tar" to nicotine ratios, while not 

 constant, are very closely linked because both are found in the particulate phase of smoke. 

 As "tar" yield is reduced, through filtration, paper porosity, expansion, and other design 

 parameters, nicotine yield is also reduced. Filters, however, are slightly more efficient at 

 reducing "tar" yield than nicotine yield. This is due to the fact that cellulose acetate, the 

 primary filter material used by Reynolds Tobacco and others, was developed to reduce "tar" 

 yield. The ability of these filters to reduce the gas phase constituents is somewhat limited. 

 Since a small amount of nicotine (unlike "tar") is found in the gas phase of cigarette smoke, 

 as well as in the particulate phase, slightly more "tar" is filtered out of the smoke, 

 proportionately, than nicotine. Thus, as yields are reduced, the ratio of "tar" yield to 

 nicotine yield is reduced slightly. 



In response to the fact that "tar" and nicotine yields are so closely and naturally 

 linked in cigarette smoke, many public health officials and others have suggested that the 

 tobacco companies should attempt to develop cigarettes which break that link. In other 

 words, we have been encouraged to develop cigarettes with reduced "tar" while maintaining 

 nicotine yields. Notable among officials who have encouraged such development is the 

 Independent Committee on Smoking and Health of the United Kingdom, which 

 recommended in 1983 that ". . . there should be available to the public some brands with 



-12- 



