Study: Cigarettes increased nicotine content over last 15 years.
The Boston Globe (1/16, Kotz) reports a Massachusetts Department of Public Health and University of Massachusetts Medical School study published online in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research indicates that particular cigarette manufacturers have increased the nicotine in their product. Researchers found the average cigarette contained 1.65 milligrams of the substance in 1999, but increased 15% to 1.89 milligrams in 2011. Study leader Thomas Land believes the increase may have resulted from redesigning several brands with alterations on filters or product length.
The Springfield (MA) Republican (1/16, Flynn) also quotes Land as saying, “Cigarettes are getting more efficient at delivering nicotine to smokers. This could make it more difficult for a current smoker who is trying to quit, and easier for a young smoker to become addicted.”
