To some people, the reasons for adding these substances to
a consumer product may appear perfectly reasonable. They
may argue that this is not necessarily a bad thing as it makes
for a better consumer experience. However, helping people
to better tolerate and enjoy a product like cigarettes, which is
well known to be toxic and carcinogenic, is an entirely different
issue and a matter of great concern.
Additives can make cigarettes more attractive by disguising
some of the undesirable effects of inhaling burnt tobacco. For
example, they:
■■mask the bitter taste and harsh smell of the smoke that is
inhaled;
■■make the inhaled smoke milder, reducing the irritation of
the airways (which essentially silences any warning that
the smoke is dangerous);
■■turn the ash and smoke white;
■■improve the appearance of cigarettes.
Ultimately, by using additives, tobacco manufacturers encourage
cigarette use in people who may otherwise be deterred
from smoking due to the unfavourable characteristics of raw
tobacco. The more pleasant the cigarette, the easier it is for a smoker to sustain their habit, and therefore the more likely it
is that they could become addicted.