10% more nicotine for smokers

Philip Morris USA, whose most famous brand is Marlboro, said nicotine levels may have fluctuated in cigarettes, but denies the purposeful, steady rise cited by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the wire service reported.

"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," according to a company statement cited by the AP.

The state study released last month evaluated more than 100 brands over six years. The researchers concluded that regardless of brand, nicotine yields had risen in cigarettes by about 10% during the span.

Massachusetts is one of three states that requires cigarette makers to submit periodic reports of nicotine levels in their products, the wire service said. The state reportedly has the oldest data going back to 1997. -(HealthDayNews, September 2006)

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