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Letter: Fire-safe cigs

Published 18 January 2003

From Peter and Frances Skuse

We thought it was pretty well known that manufactured cigarettes contain an additive specifically to ensure a lit cigarette does not self-extinguish (21/28 December 2002, p 6). Also, that hand-rolled ones go out if left unpuffed for several seconds, because they’ve not got it.

So why did the article mention the idea of using, for example, “low porosity paper” when there is no need for it? Just leave out the additive. All cigarettes would go out quickly when dropped, discarded, or not puffed frequently, and users would smoke less … Oh, I see now.

Whyteleafe, Surrey, UK

Issue no. 2378 published 18 January 2003

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