The science behind the development and performance of reduced ignition propensity cigarettes

Abstract

A burning cigarette is a known cause of fire when mishandled. Studies into cigarette ignition propensity intensified after the US Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 1984. Extensive research has investigated the thermal properties of a smouldering cigarette, mostly away from any object of thermal contact or interference. To understand fire ignition, the thermophysics of cigarette's burning tip has also been examined with and without a contact substrate. In either free or contact smouldering cases, oxygen diffusion through the cigarette wrapping paper has been found to be an important parameter controlling the rate of burn and the energy released. Research by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology led to a standardized test method to determine cigarette ignition propensity, and eventually regulations enforcing Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) cigarettes have been passed in all US states and other countries. Among the physical parameters of a burning cigarette related to its thermal energy release, circumferential bands applied to the cigarette wrapping paper that reduce air permeability or diffusivity during smouldering have become the main approach to produce commercial RIP cigarettes. Studies have been performed to ensure that RIP cigarettes have equivalent or lower mainstream smoke yields and biological activities as compared with their conventional non-RIP equivalents. The effects of the paper band properties (width, gap between the bands, type as well as the amount of the material applied) have been studied systematically to establish a manufacturability window. Studies on human smoking behaviour confirmed that RIP cigarettes matched closely their predecessors. The bands, as intended, alter the combustion temperatures during cigarette smouldering within the band. Further research into the interaction of RIP cigarettes with different types of commercial upholstery fabrics and materials should help to understand its mechanism of action in support of emerging postimplementation fire statistics.

Are fire safe cigarettes actually fire safe? Evidence from changes in US state laws

“…Our results reinforce the mixed state of the evidence regarding the effects of fire safe cigarette laws,6 and despite finding an indication of an effect on cigarette-related fire mortality rates, we are still left with some unanswered questions. For instance, why would cigarette-related deaths have been affected while the cigarette-related fires in general have remained unchanged?…”

“…However, the empirical evidence on the effects of these laws on the occurrence of fires and fire mortality paints a mixed picture, with effect sizes ranging from −40% to null effects 6. Most of these studies are based on case studies of countries or subnational jurisdictions,7–10 which may be problematic due to the possibility of publication bias in favour of statistically significant results in the expected direction 11.…”

Soft furnishing fires: They're still a problem

“…Baker and his colleagues reported that findings from several studies on the effectiveness of these requirements ranged from a 40% reduction in fires started by smoking materials compared to the period before implementation to no observable effect. They also noted that “The test method in the ASTM E2187 standard represents a simplified fire initiation scenario as compared with the multitude of possibilities of real‐life fire initiation.” 32 …”

The Impact of Reduced Fire Risk Cigarettes Regulation on Residential Fire Incidents, Mortality and Health Service Utilisation in New South Wales, Australia

“…Globally, fires are a common cause of emotional distress, physical injury and death, and studies show that residential fires are a major cause of fire-related morbidity and mortality [1]. One of the main risk factors for residential fires is dropped or improperly discarded cigarettes [2]. These types of fires are usually caused by smokers falling asleep with a lit cigarette or dropping their cigarettes or discarding them negligently [3][4][5][6].…”