Smoking is more harmful than the packaging of cigarettes claims. This is shown by research by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
In some cigarettes, the amount of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide is at least twice as high as the manufacturers claim. In the worst case scenario, the smoke even contains 26 times as much tar as stated on the package.
How is that possible?
According to EU guidelines, measurements may be taken while leaving small ventilation holes in cigarettes open. The RIVM indicates that the image is more realistic if the holes are taped.
A spokesperson for a tobacco company says that this type of testing is not intended to measure individual exposure, but to make a comparison between different cigarette brands. According to him, if a different measurement method becomes mandatory, the maximum allowed values should also be adjusted.
Read more about the research on the RIVM website.
