The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)
recently released a report titled "Change in Nicotine Yields 1998 -
2004." In the report and the related press release MDPH concluded,
among other things, that:
-0-
"Marlboro...delivered significantly more nicotine."
"The study found that, regardless of brand, the amount of nicotine
that is actually delivered to the smoker's lungs has increased
significantly over the past six years."
After reviewing the report, Philip Morris USA (PM USA) does not believe that the MDPH's conclusions about the trends in nicotine yields for Marlboro are supported by the 1997 to 2005 data that PM USA provided to the MDPH. In addition: -0- The analysis in the report did not include relevant information from 1997 and 2005 that was reported by PM USA to the MDPH. The nicotine yields for the Marlboro brand do not show a general trend, either up or down, when all the information PM USA reported to the MDPH is considered. The MDPH's conclusions are based on machine smoking test methods. Many public health authorities agree that machine test methods are not an accurate way to determine what is "actually delivered to the smoker's lungs". PM USA remains committed to comprehensive, meaningful and effective Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of tobacco products.
Data Reported by PM USA:
Since 1997, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has required cigarette companies, including Philip Morris USA, to report nicotine yield numbers using a method different from the Federal Trade Commission method. We have submitted these reports at the end of each year, for the years 1997 through 2005. However, the MDPH report did not include the 1997 and 2005 data. PM USA's full reports of nicotine yields provided to the MDPH from 1997 through 2005 are posted in their entirety on our company website in the Product Facts (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/product_facts/tar_nicotine/tar_nico tine_landing.asp#machine (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)) section of the website.
Marlboro Nicotine Yields:
Philip Morris USA analysis of the nicotine yield data on Marlboro for 1997 through 2005 indicates that there are variations in the nicotine yield for different Marlboro packings, both up and down from year-to-year, but there is no general trend up or down.
We have created a chart (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/downloads/about_us/pressroom/genera l/pdf/Marlboro_Volume_Weighted_Avg_Nicotine.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)) that provides two lines for averaged nicotine yield of Marlboro cigarettes. The top line shows the simple linear average nicotine yields for the full nine years that Philip Morris USA reported data to the MDPH calculated for the 18 Marlboro packings reported every year (1997 - 2005). The bottom line shows the 1997 - 2005 nicotine yields for the Marlboro brand family based on a sales weighted average, which most closely parallels purchases by adult smokers in the United States.
The sales weighted average line shows the average nicotine yield for the Marlboro brand went from 1.85 in 1997 to 1.76 milligrams per cigarette in 2005, a 0.09 milligram decrease. The simple linear average line shows that the average nicotine yield for the Marlboro brand went from 1.86 in 1997 to 1.90 milligrams per cigarette in 2005, a 0.04 milligram increase.
When the data from the entire time period from 1997 - 2005 are considered, using either a simple linear average calculation or a more relevant sales weighted average calculation, you see annual variations up or down each year, but no general trend up or down. These year-to-year variations in nicotine occur as part of the normal processes of growing tobacco and manufacturing cigarettes.
To further illustrate the lack of any general trend change for the Marlboro brand family, we point out that of the 18 Marlboro brand packings tested in both 1997 and in 2005, the nicotine yields of three are lower, eight are higher and seven are the same.
We have created another chart (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/downloads/about_us/pressroom/genera l/pdf/nicotine_yield_of_two_best_selling_marlboro_brand_packings.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)) which provides the nicotine yield of the two best selling Marlboro brand packings. Marlboro King Size Box and Marlboro Lights King Size Box account for about half of Marlboro brand sales. Each of these packings had a change from 1997 to 2005 of 0.03 milligrams -- one an increase and one a decrease.
Machine Smoking Test Methods:
The MDPH report links the nicotine measured by a smoking machine to nicotine "actually delivered to the smoker's lungs". Other public health authorities have said one should not link machine smoking to actual human smoking. For example, the World Health Organization Study Group on Tobacco Regulation concluded that "Machine testing protocols are not likely to provide a valid basis for predicting health effects or for making claims about health effects because such protocols do not predict how the products will be used by individuals or at the population level." The MDPH itself states on its website that "Because of the difference in individual smoking patterns, no number is truly representative of the amount of nicotine any smoker will receive from a cigarette."
Additional information concerning tar and nicotine yields is available on our company website. http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/product_facts/tar_nicotine/tar_nicot ine_landing.asp (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
PM USA Support For FDA Regulation:
The MDPH report has led a number of public health advocates and others to call for regulation of the tobacco industry. PM USA remains committed to comprehensive, meaningful and effective FDA regulation of tobacco products. We believe FDA regulation would play a significant role in reducing the harm caused by tobacco. This is a goal that we share with the public health community and society and believe is good for our company, our employees and the industry as a whole.
After reviewing the report, Philip Morris USA (PM USA) does not believe that the MDPH's conclusions about the trends in nicotine yields for Marlboro are supported by the 1997 to 2005 data that PM USA provided to the MDPH. In addition: -0- The analysis in the report did not include relevant information from 1997 and 2005 that was reported by PM USA to the MDPH. The nicotine yields for the Marlboro brand do not show a general trend, either up or down, when all the information PM USA reported to the MDPH is considered. The MDPH's conclusions are based on machine smoking test methods. Many public health authorities agree that machine test methods are not an accurate way to determine what is "actually delivered to the smoker's lungs". PM USA remains committed to comprehensive, meaningful and effective Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of tobacco products.
Data Reported by PM USA:
Since 1997, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has required cigarette companies, including Philip Morris USA, to report nicotine yield numbers using a method different from the Federal Trade Commission method. We have submitted these reports at the end of each year, for the years 1997 through 2005. However, the MDPH report did not include the 1997 and 2005 data. PM USA's full reports of nicotine yields provided to the MDPH from 1997 through 2005 are posted in their entirety on our company website in the Product Facts (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/product_facts/tar_nicotine/tar_nico tine_landing.asp#machine (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)) section of the website.
Marlboro Nicotine Yields:
Philip Morris USA analysis of the nicotine yield data on Marlboro for 1997 through 2005 indicates that there are variations in the nicotine yield for different Marlboro packings, both up and down from year-to-year, but there is no general trend up or down.
We have created a chart (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/downloads/about_us/pressroom/genera l/pdf/Marlboro_Volume_Weighted_Avg_Nicotine.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)) that provides two lines for averaged nicotine yield of Marlboro cigarettes. The top line shows the simple linear average nicotine yields for the full nine years that Philip Morris USA reported data to the MDPH calculated for the 18 Marlboro packings reported every year (1997 - 2005). The bottom line shows the 1997 - 2005 nicotine yields for the Marlboro brand family based on a sales weighted average, which most closely parallels purchases by adult smokers in the United States.
The sales weighted average line shows the average nicotine yield for the Marlboro brand went from 1.85 in 1997 to 1.76 milligrams per cigarette in 2005, a 0.09 milligram decrease. The simple linear average line shows that the average nicotine yield for the Marlboro brand went from 1.86 in 1997 to 1.90 milligrams per cigarette in 2005, a 0.04 milligram increase.
When the data from the entire time period from 1997 - 2005 are considered, using either a simple linear average calculation or a more relevant sales weighted average calculation, you see annual variations up or down each year, but no general trend up or down. These year-to-year variations in nicotine occur as part of the normal processes of growing tobacco and manufacturing cigarettes.
To further illustrate the lack of any general trend change for the Marlboro brand family, we point out that of the 18 Marlboro brand packings tested in both 1997 and in 2005, the nicotine yields of three are lower, eight are higher and seven are the same.
We have created another chart (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/downloads/about_us/pressroom/genera l/pdf/nicotine_yield_of_two_best_selling_marlboro_brand_packings.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)) which provides the nicotine yield of the two best selling Marlboro brand packings. Marlboro King Size Box and Marlboro Lights King Size Box account for about half of Marlboro brand sales. Each of these packings had a change from 1997 to 2005 of 0.03 milligrams -- one an increase and one a decrease.
Machine Smoking Test Methods:
The MDPH report links the nicotine measured by a smoking machine to nicotine "actually delivered to the smoker's lungs". Other public health authorities have said one should not link machine smoking to actual human smoking. For example, the World Health Organization Study Group on Tobacco Regulation concluded that "Machine testing protocols are not likely to provide a valid basis for predicting health effects or for making claims about health effects because such protocols do not predict how the products will be used by individuals or at the population level." The MDPH itself states on its website that "Because of the difference in individual smoking patterns, no number is truly representative of the amount of nicotine any smoker will receive from a cigarette."
Additional information concerning tar and nicotine yields is available on our company website. http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/product_facts/tar_nicotine/tar_nicot ine_landing.asp (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
PM USA Support For FDA Regulation:
The MDPH report has led a number of public health advocates and others to call for regulation of the tobacco industry. PM USA remains committed to comprehensive, meaningful and effective FDA regulation of tobacco products. We believe FDA regulation would play a significant role in reducing the harm caused by tobacco. This is a goal that we share with the public health community and society and believe is good for our company, our employees and the industry as a whole.