Smoking topography in a nonlaboratory environment.

The relationships between the number of cigarettes smoked/day and the number of puffs/cigarette, puff duration, and total puff time/cigarette were studied. Data were collected on 12 regular smokers for all cigarettes smoked over a 3-day period in a nonlaboratory environment. Between-subject variability was substantial on each of the topographical measures. Neither the number of cigarettes smoked per day nor the classification of Heavy (greater than 25 cigarettes/day) vs Moderate (less than 25 cigarettes/day) smoking levels was related to the intensity with which cigarettes were smoked. Within-subject consistency on the topography measures indicates that smokers may have relatively unique smoking patterns.