A cigarette filter has the purpose of reducing the amount of materials harmful to the health like tar and gases in the smoke of a cigarette. Additionally, the filter makes the smoke somewhat milder, which is why some smokers break it off, in order to obtain a stronger taste.

With classic filter cigarettes, the filter is covered with a cork-colored mouthpiece. Nowadays, some cigarette brands use a white mouth piece, especially those which are oriented to a predominately female target group.

Most factory-made cigarettes are provided with a filter; those who roll their own can buy them in a tobacco store.

Manufacture

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The raw material for the manufacture of cigarette filters is cellulose (obtained from wood). The "cellulose is dissolved and regenerated as a continuous synthetic fiber arrange into a bundle called tow." This tow is shaped and cut to length to act as a filter. One older brand of cigarettes actually used asbestos for a time as part of the filter. Asbestos fiber is heatproof, insoluble and forms extremely fine fibers--the same characteristics that are not good in your lungs.

Additional functions of the filter

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Especially with the so-called "light" cigarettes, the filter is provided with tiny holes. The smoke is thereby diluted with air, so that it contains less tar and nicotine. However, in practical use, the average smoker covers parts of the holes with his fingers and lips, so that the inhaled smoke contains multiple times the concentration of tar and nicotine as stated on the pack.

Ultra-fine fibers

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Cigarette filter fibers are considered to be much too large in diameter to be inhaled into the lungs. With inhalation, theoretically, fine fibers are transported into the lungs and the amount of inhaled substances increases. At the same time, the greater resistance when inhaling leads to a longer suction phase and thus to a deeper inhalation than with non-filter cigarettes--again theoretically. Thus, it is disputed whether filter cigarettes are less harmful than non-filtered.

Cigarettes | Filters

Zigarettenfilter | Фильтр сигаретный