[Andrew Askew]

Andrew Askew  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Chris & Team,
 
Is there any real benefit to 'light' cigarettes?
 
Regards,
 
Andrew Askew

What do you think?

[Don_1]

Not if you smoke twice as many as ordinary ones!

I tried going on to 'lights', but found I was smoking more to get the nicotine hit.

You are less likely to get lung problems with 'lights',*** but run a considerable risk of a hernia trying to get some taste out of them!


*** I should add, this is not true.

[glovesforfoxes]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9450-lowtar-cigarette-smokers-are-less-likely-to-quit.html

Recent studies have shown that people smoking low-tar cigarettes face the same risk of developing lung cancer as those who smoke regular ones. And it is the false perception that such cigarettes do less harm that makes people less likely to quit, the researchers found.

i'm not sure if lights are better in other areas, but lung cancer ain't one. whether or not this leads to less likelyhood of developing COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) like emphysema i don't know, but i very much doubt that light cigarettes are better for you - if you're going to smoke, do it little.

[Bored chemist]

From the maker's point of view there is a clear advantage- you use less tobacco to make them but you sell them for a premium.
The only real way to limit the damage caused by smoking is to quit.