In our opinion, nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide (CO) deliveries are useful information for adult consumers regarding cigarette aroma, taste, and character.

British American Tobacco Caribbean & Central America believes that internationally recognised standards of measurement and analysis – such as those developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – must be used to constantly analyse and measure nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide deliveries in our products.

In the case of brands marketed by BATCCA in Central America and the Caribbean, nicotine and tar measurements are printed on the cigarette packs, except in countries where it is prohibited by law. And in some cases, tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels have regulated limits.

But what are tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide?  Here we offer simple descriptions.

Nicotine

Nicotine occurs naturally in the tobacco plant and is a constituent of tobacco smoke. It can also be found in some other plants, but at much lower levels than in tobacco. Nicotine has unusual pharmacological properties; it has both a mild stimulant effect, though less than that of caffeine. Many public health authorities believe nicotine is responsible for some people’s difficulty to quit smoking. However, science suggests that, though important, nicotine is not the only reason for smoking.

Tar

Cigarette smoke contains tiny particles, which can be collected on a filter pad in a laboratory. Tar is usually defined as the weight of particulate matter collected in this way, after water and nicotine are subtracted. Health authorities have identified certain tar components as being associated with serious health risks from smoking, such as cancer. British American Tobacco Caribbean & Central America prints tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements on the packs of all the brands it produces and markets. These measurements are expressed in milligrams (mg) per cigarette and vary according to tobacco blend and cigarette design.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a gas formed when plant materials burn. It is formed, for example, when wood burns and when cigarette tobacco burns. Some health authorities believe carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke to be associated with the increased risk of heart disease from smoking.