Scientists Prove That One Type Of Cigarette Is More Dangerous Than Any Other

I'm sorry, smokers. If you thought you were being healthier by choosing the 'low tar' or 'light' cigarettes, here's some news: they're actually worse for you than normal ones.

Experts were baffled when they noticed that rates of adenocarcinoma (a tumour that grows deep inside your lungs) was becoming more common, and yet rates of other lung cancers were reducing as more people give up smoking.

A team of researchers from Ohio State University found that there's a link between this data and cigarettes that are marketed as 'low tar' or 'light'. You know the ones, they have little holes around the filter.

Lead researcher Dr Peter Shields wrote: "This was done to fool smokers and the public health community into thinking they actually were safer. Our data suggests a clear ­relationship between the addition of ventilation holes and increasing rates of lung adenocarcinoma over the past 20 years.

"What is especially concerning is these holes are still added to virtually all cigarettes smoked today."

Dr Sheilds continued: "The filter ventilation holes change how the tobacco is burned, producing more carcinogens, which then also allows the smoke to reach the deeper parts of the lung where adenocarcinomas more frequently occur."

Their findings were published in the Journal of the National Institute, where they also insisted that ­regulators should consider a ban on filter ventilation holes.

Hazel Cheeseman, of Action on Smoking and Health, said the 'light' branding is fooling the public. She told the Mirror: "This type of branding trickery is just the reason all packs now sold in the UK are a drab green. Future ­generations of children will not be conned."

Obviously, this is even more of a reason to pack in smoking. If you are a smoker, there are lots of different help and advice out there to quit.

Call the free Smokefree National Helpline to speak to a trained, expert adviser.

Call now: 0300 123 1044

All lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

You can also chat to people online as well as visiting stop smoking services in your local area.

All the information you need can be found here.

Featured Image Credit: LADbible

Topics: Smoke, Cigarettes, Cancer, Smoking, Health

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay has been a Senior Journalist for Tyla and LADbible since 2015. She started her career writing obituaries and funeral guides online. Since then, her work has been published in a wide variety of national and local news sites. She is part of the BBC's Generation project and has spoken about young people, politics and mental health on television, radio and online. Contact her - [email protected]

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