メディエイゴ

A reanalysis⁽¹⁾ of nicotine yield⁽²⁾ from major brand name cigarettes sold in Massachusetts from 1997 to 2005 has confirmed that manufacturers⁽³⁾ have steadily⁽⁴⁾ increased the levels of⁽⁵⁾ this agent⁽⁶⁾ in cigarettes. This independent analysis, based on⁽⁷⁾ data submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health⁽⁸⁾ (MDPH) by the manufacturers, found that increases in smoke nicotine yield⁽⁹⁾ per cigarette averaged 1.6 percent each year, or about 11 percent over a seven-year period⁽¹⁰⁾ (1998-2005). Nicotine is the primary addictive⁽¹¹⁾ agent in cigarettes.

The full report "Trends in Smoke Nicotine Yield and Relationship to Design Characteristics⁽¹²⁾ Among Popular U.S. Cigarette Brands" is available here:

In addition to⁽¹³⁾ confirming the magnitude of the increase⁽¹⁴⁾, first reported in August, 2006 by MDPH, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health⁽¹⁵⁾ (HSPH) extended the analysis to:

1) ascertain⁽¹⁶⁾ how manufacturers accomplished⁽¹⁷⁾ the increase -- not only by intensifying the concentration of⁽¹⁸⁾ nicotine in the tobacco but also by modifying⁽¹⁹⁾ several design features⁽²⁰⁾ of cigarettes to increase the number of puffs⁽²¹⁾ per cigarette. The end result⁽²²⁾ is a product that is potentially⁽²³⁾ more addictive.

2) examine all market categories⁽²⁴⁾ -- finding that smoke nicotine yields were increased in the cigarettes of each of the four major manufacturers and across all the major cigarette market categories (e.g. mentholated⁽²⁵⁾, non-mentholated, full-flavor, light, ultralight).