Impact of long-term filter cigarette usage on lung and larynx cancer risk: a case-control study.

A case-control study was conducted among 1.034 white male and female hospital patients with histologically proved lung cancer (Kreyberg type l) or larynx cancer. After adjustment for duration of the smoking habit, inhalation, and butt length, relative risks of developing lung or larynx cancer were consistently lower among long-term smokers of filter cigarettes than among smokers of nonfilter cigarettes, irrespective of quantity smoked. Relative risks in all groups declined with increased years of smoking cessation. The observed risk reduction among current smokers of filter cigarettes was consistent with that expected, considering that these persons had smoked the older high-tar nonfilter cigarettes for a large proportion of their lives.