Carcinogenic Activity of Cigarette Smoke Condensate. III. Biological Activity of Refined Tar from Several Types of Cigarettes

Summary

Smoke condensates from several brands of commercial cigarettes, including menthol, denicotinized, and imported English cigarettes, were tested for carcinogenic potency. Papillomas and skin cancers were produced by each condensate. Smoke condensate from the English cigarettes was significantly more carcinogenic than that from American cigarettes when equal amounts of tar were applied to the skin. The data show that the carcinogenic potency of smoke from popular cigarettes varies with the cigarette composition, the method of manufacture, or both.