Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes Rising

Study Shows 11% Jump in Cigarettes' Addictive Drug Over 7-Year Period

Jan. 18, 2007 -- Nicotine levels in cigarettes rose 11% from 1998 to 2005, according to a Harvard School of Public Health analysis.

Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient in cigarettes.

The Harvard analysis confirms an earlier report by Massachusetts health officials. Tobacco industry officials deny there has been a deliberate attempt to manipulate nicotine levels in cigarettes, saying the nicotine in tobacco products fluctuates randomly from year to year. But the lead author of the Harvard study says the upward trend cannot be explained by random market fluctuations.

"We do agree that there are fluctuations from year to year," Gregory Connolly, DMD, MPH, tells WebMD. "But when we plotted those fluctuations out, there was a significant increase in nicotine levels on the order of 1.6% per year, or 11% over a seven-year period."

Based on an analysis of data from 1998 to 2004, Massachusetts health officials reported an upward trend in nicotine levels in cigarettes last August.

That report was strongly criticized by tobacco industry leader Philip Morris USA.

The increase was seen in all major cigarette types -- including full flavor, light, medium, and ultralight -- and in both mentholated and non-mentholated brands

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Cigarette Makers Respond

In a statement issued today, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds denied that the company has intentionally increased the nicotine in its cigarettes.

R.J. Reynolds makes top-selling brands Camel, Doral, Winston, Kool, and Salem

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