Characterization of tobacco products: a comparative study of the tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide yields of cigars, manufactured cigarettes, and cigarettes made from fine-cut tobacco.

Yields of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide were compared in selected Canadian brands of manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes, and small and large cigars. To control for varying volumes of smoke delivery per cigarette or cigar, standardized comparisons in milligrams of toxic substance per liter of smoke were made. The mean deliveries per liter of smoke and tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide were highest for small cigars, followed by hand-rolled and manufactured cigarettes; large cigars had the lowest deliveries. Five out of six brands of cigarettes handmade from fine-cut tobacco delivered significantly more tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide per cigarette or per liter than did the identically named manufactured brand.