Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: paul.fr on 19/08/2007 08:16:53

Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: paul.fr on 19/08/2007 08:16:53
are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale without it? If they are, would a longer filter make a healthier cigarette? If not, why are they there?
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/08/2007 15:01:32
The filters remove some of the trash but I think their main effect is on flavour rather than toxicity.
The way to make a healthier cigarette is to not smoke it.
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: neilep on 19/08/2007 15:06:49
What about herbal ciggys ?
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: eric l on 19/08/2007 16:03:36
Quote from: neilep on 19/08/2007 15:06:49
What about herbal ciggys ?
You will have cigarettes without nicotine, but not without tar and other nasties - or maybe even with some other nasties.
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: Cut Chemist on 21/08/2007 04:49:31
This experiment might not be scientific enough for this website, but it is a visual representation of how much tar comes from even a "light, and filtered" cigarette.  You would have to be a smoker to actually do the experiment but ... here it is

 http://208.65.153.253/watch?v=IQ4n7g31RlE
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: paul.fr on 21/08/2007 09:03:22
Quote from: Cut Chemist on 21/08/2007 04:49:31
This experiment might not be scientific enough for this website, but it is a visual representation of how much tar comes from even a "light, and filtered" cigarette.  You would have to be a smoker to actually do the experiment but ... here it is

 http://208.65.153.253/watch?v=IQ4n7g31RlE

how things jog your memory. i remember doing something similar, with cotton wool though. The cigarette was lit and drawn through a great big wad of cotton woll, i can picture the effect now.

Thanks CC for helping me remember that experiment.
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: eric l on 21/08/2007 14:24:18
If you want an effective filter, you have to switch to the hookah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah), but I can hardly see you (or anyone else) walking in the streets with one of those.
The filtrating action of the water and the cooling effect will remove 99 % of the tar - at least that's what I was told.
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: paul.fr on 21/08/2007 14:27:15
Quote from: eric l on 21/08/2007 14:24:18
If you want an effective filter, you have to switch to the hookah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah), but I can hardly see you (or anyone else) walking in the streets with one of those.
The filtrating action of the water and the cooling effect will remove 99 % of the tar - at least that's what I was told.

thanks eric, i tend not to walk down the street with my hooker...oops, you said hookah [:I]
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: Bored chemist on 21/08/2007 20:51:17
Not smoking removes 100% of the tar and the other toxins.
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: eric l on 22/08/2007 08:58:55
Quote from: Bored chemist on 21/08/2007 20:51:17
Not smoking removes 100% of the tar and the other toxins.
How about "passive smoking" ?  Of course, you won't have the same concentration of pollutants to deal with.  But is passive smoking so much more dangerous than breathing the air in a road tunnel with heavy traffic ?
Title: are the filters on cigarettes cutting out the nasties you would inhale withoutit
Post by: Bored chemist on 22/08/2007 20:50:58
If nobody smokes the cig then it cuts down the passive smoking too.