Some cigarette brands contain up to 20 times more of the most addictive form of nicotine than other brands, according to a new report. A study by Oregon Health and Science University found a wide range of concentrations of "free-base" nicotine in 11 popular brands of cigarettes in the US, according to a CBC report.

Free-base nicotine is missing a hydrogen ion, which allows it to vaporise easily into a gas during smoking. Lead researcher James Pankow says the study, which is published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, is a major step in understanding nicotine addiction. "Gaseous nicotine is known to deposit super-quickly in the lungs. From there, it's transported rapidly to the brain," Pankow says. "[A] drug becomes more addictive when it is delivered to the brain more rapidly."

The researchers compared the first three puffs of smoke from each brand to measure what percentage of the nicotine is in the free-base form. They found some brands had only 1% free-base nicotine and others up to 36%. Marlboro contained up to 9.6% free-base nicotine. Camel had 2.7%; Winston 5% to 6.2%; Gauloises Blondes, 5.7% to 7.5%.

In many cases, the free-base content was higher in the first puffs. Marlboro had a free-base nicotine level of 9.6% in the first three puffs and 2.7% in later puffs, according to news wire reports. (Health Scout)

Originally posted week beginning 28 July 2003

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