Light Cigarettes Defined

Light cigarettes, also known as “low tar,” “mild,” or “ultra-light” cigarettes contain special filters that were made to dilute cigarette smoke. There were many smokers who chose light cigarettes over the “regular” or “full-flavor” cigarettes since they thought they were less damaging. While light cigarettes might feel smoother and lighter on the throat and chest, they were not healthier and health risks related to smoking were not reduced. There is no safe cigarette and the only way to decrease the smoker’s health risks and the risks to others through second hand smoke, is to stop smoking.

Recent News about Light Cigarettes

Light cigarettes were recently the focus of federal lawsuits filed in the US District Court. The plaintiffs claimed that tobacco companies misled them into believing that light cigarettes were safer compared to regular cigarettes. The defendant tobacco companies insisted that the word “light” means that it has lighter-tasting cigarette, and the smokers should understand the intended meaning of the term.

Tar and Nicotine Numbers in Light Cigarette

Nicotine and tar produce numbers that can be found on the cigarette packs. These numbers are reference point for the quantity of nicotine and tar the smoker may inhale. But these numbers do not also mirror the accurate quantity the smoker inhales, for several reasons.

One, the “nicotine yield” numbers are produced by the smoking machines, which “smoke” each brand of cigarettes similarly. Smokers who are not like machines, desire nicotine, hence, may smoke more deeply; take bigger, faster, or frequent puffs; or smoke few more cigarettes every day to get sufficient nicotine to satisfy their needs. When the smokers “compensate,” they tend to inhale more nicotine, tar, and other harmful chemicals compared to the machine-based numbers that suggest.

Two, light cigarette has small pinholes found on the filters. The “filter vents” reduce cigarette smoke with air during “puffing” by the smoking machines that lead to artificially low measurements of nicotine and tar. However, these filter vents are placed within millimeters from where the smokers may place their fingers or lips. By stopping these vents, the light cigarette becomes a regular cigarette.

Three, when the manufacturers of the cigarettes increase the length of their paper wrap that serves as cover for the exterior of the cigarette filter, the number of puffs reduces during the machine test. The tobacco inside the paper wraps remains to be available to the smoker and is not burned during the machine test. Thus, the machine measures lesser nicotine and tar rather than what is available to the smoker.

Ill Effects of Light Cigarettes

The National Cancer Institute states that light cigarettes give no benefits to a smoker’s health. The smokers who change from regular cigarettes to light cigarettes tend to inhale the same quantity of harmful chemicals and at greater risks for smoking-related cancers and other Illnesses. There is no proof that will suggest that changing to light cigarettes will help the smokers to stop. Quit smoking removes or lessens the risks of dying from tobacco-related disease and the risks of lung cancer, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung illnesses.

Obtaining Legal Assistance

There are several light cigarette lawsuits that were filed in federal courts, with plaintiffs asserting that tobacco companies misled them into believing that light cigarettes were safer alternative to traditional or regular cigarettes.

If you or any of your family members experienced diseases related to smoking cigarettes, you must seek medical attention first. Then, you can look for an experienced lawyer who will explain and discuss your options and your legal rights to remedy from any injury caused by light cigarettes.