The Fire Safe Cigarette: The Fire Safe Cigarette: Assessing Industry ActionsAssessing Industry Actions

Presenter: Geoffrey Ferris Wayne, Massachusetts Presenter: Geoffrey Ferris Wayne, Massachusetts

Tobacco Control ProgramTobacco Control Program

Contributors:Contributors:

Mushtaq Gunja, Greg Connolly, MTCPMushtaq Gunja, Greg Connolly, MTCP

Anne Landman, ALA-ColoradoAnne Landman, ALA-Colorado

Andrew McGuire, Trauma FoundationAndrew McGuire, Trauma Foundation

The Issue: Cigarette Caused The Issue: Cigarette Caused FiresFires

• Cigarette caused fires are responsible for Cigarette caused fires are responsible for 1000 deaths and billions of dollars in other 1000 deaths and billions of dollars in other damages in the U.S. each year. damages in the U.S. each year.

• Cigarettes account for 30% of all U.S. fire Cigarettes account for 30% of all U.S. fire deaths.deaths.

• The United States suffers one of the highest The United States suffers one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world.fire death rates in the industrialized world.

Background: Fire Safe Background: Fire Safe LegislationLegislation• 1979- Congressman Moakley introduces bill 1979- Congressman Moakley introduces bill

to give the Consumer Product Safety to give the Consumer Product Safety Commission ability to regulate cigarettes as Commission ability to regulate cigarettes as fire hazardfire hazard

• 1985- Compromise bill passed, formation of 1985- Compromise bill passed, formation of Technical Study Group (3-year feasibility Technical Study Group (3-year feasibility study)study)

• 1987- TSG concludes fire safe cigarette both 1987- TSG concludes fire safe cigarette both technically and economically feasibletechnically and economically feasible

Background (continued)Background (continued)

• 1990- New bill passed, Technical Advisory 1990- New bill passed, Technical Advisory Group formed to create method for testing Group formed to create method for testing ignition propensityignition propensity

• 1993- Two tests proposed, but criticized 1993- Two tests proposed, but criticized by members of tobacco industryby members of tobacco industry

• 2000- State of NY passes legislation 2000- State of NY passes legislation requiring fire safe cigarettes by July 2003; requiring fire safe cigarettes by July 2003; Philip Morris introduces Merit cigarettes Philip Morris introduces Merit cigarettes with fire safe paperwith fire safe paper

Tobacco Document ResearchTobacco Document Research

• ~4,000,000 internal tobacco industry ~4,000,000 internal tobacco industry documents made available as part of the documents made available as part of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement1998 Master Settlement Agreement

• Keyword search of document indexes, as Keyword search of document indexes, as well as OCR when availablewell as OCR when available

• Approximately 250 documents indexed, Approximately 250 documents indexed, which can be accessed at which can be accessed at <tobaccodocuments.org><tobaccodocuments.org>

Industry Research on Fire Industry Research on Fire SafetySafety• All major tobacco companies had begun All major tobacco companies had begun

internal programs for development of a internal programs for development of a fire safe cigarette by the 1970’sfire safe cigarette by the 1970’s

• Two different approaches:Two different approaches:– self-extinguishment self-extinguishment

– reduced ignition propensity when applied to reduced ignition propensity when applied to substratesubstrate

Summary of Early Patents (pre-Summary of Early Patents (pre-1980)1980)

Source: Industry Documents

Patent Feature Description Results # ofPatents

Silicateadditives

Added silicate to paperfor reduced porosity

Decrease s burn rate to self-extinguish when unpuffed;increases total delivery

8

Sheathenclosure

Cigarette enclosed byfoil, silicates, or otherfire retardant substance

Fire safe, although cumbersomeand considered “impractical forroutine use”

4

Banded paper/barriers

Band of non-combustable materialin paper or tobacco

Terminates cigarette burning atpredetermined point (self-extinguishing)

15

Asbestos orglass in paper

Addition of fireresistant materials inpaper

Materials not suitable for use incommercial cigarettes

4

Burn rateadditives

Addition of additives topaper to reduce burnrate

Decreases burn rate to self-extinguish when unpuffed;increases total delivery

2

Summary of Industry ProjectsSummary of Industry ProjectsProject Company Date Research targets Results

Hamlet PM 1982-1987

Nonporous paper, bandedpaper, reduced chalk, basetreated paper, doublewrapped paper, blend andflavor modifications

Achieved lowignition propensitycigarette withsubjectives at parityto control

(unnamed) BW 1983-1989

Nonporous paper, bandedpaper, slow burn paper

Abandoned goal ofself-extinguishmentto target ignitionpropensity

LIP (LowIgnitionPropensity)

RJR 1988-1990

Circumference, expandedtobacco, and paper porosity

No consumeracceptable prototype

Tomorrow PM 1987- Mass burn rates targeted viaexpanded tobacco, tobaccocut, paper porosity, additives,and banded wrappers

Achieve successfulprototype usingbanded wrappers(2000 Merit)

IP (IgnitionPropensity)

RJR 1991- Altered blends and paperporosity, use of burnadditives

“No significantdifference inacceptance”

ReduceIgnitionPropensity

BW 1993 Low porosity paper, burnadditives, banded paper,cross hatch papers

No successfulprototypes

Source: Industry Documents

Summary of Successful Summary of Successful Consumer TestsConsumer Tests

Company Date Product Results

Philip Morris 1985 Commercial/Noncoventionalblends

"Two models were found to be acceptableto some smoker groups on the complexwide panel"

Philip Morris 1987 Nonporouspaper, modifiedblend

"The cigarette models appear to be equallyacceptable to the smokers in this test."

Brown &Williamson

1993 Kool Blend withlow porositypaper

One prototype was similar to the control in11 of 13 subjective attributes

RJ Reynolds 1993 Camel Lightsblends

"The results also indicate that CAMELLTS 85 smokers have an overallacceptance of blend variation prototypessimilar to the control."

Source: Industry Documents

Results of Industry ResearchResults of Industry Research

• Self-extinguishmentSelf-extinguishment– Focused on changes to cigarette paper (bands, etc.)Focused on changes to cigarette paper (bands, etc.)

– Project Hamlet (PM) successful 1980’sProject Hamlet (PM) successful 1980’s

– Banded paper= Merit introduction, 2000Banded paper= Merit introduction, 2000

• Ignition propensityIgnition propensity– RJR identifies factors affecting IP in 1979; TSG RJR identifies factors affecting IP in 1979; TSG

identifies same factors after 3 year study in 1987identifies same factors after 3 year study in 1987

– Successful prototype in 1980’s; acceptability at issueSuccessful prototype in 1980’s; acceptability at issue

Arguing Against Fire Safe Arguing Against Fire Safe CigaretteCigarette• Consumer acceptabilityConsumer acceptability

– PM, BW, RJR all developed acceptable prototypesPM, BW, RJR all developed acceptable prototypes

• Increased toxicityIncreased toxicity– no meaningful change compared to regular no meaningful change compared to regular

cigarettecigarette

• Testing protocolsTesting protocols– internal protocols successfulinternal protocols successful

• Responsibility of smokerResponsibility of smoker– RJR study refutes claims of behavioral changesRJR study refutes claims of behavioral changes

• EconomicEconomic

– Requires changes across all brands for all Requires changes across all brands for all manufacturersmanufacturers

– 1988 RJR estimate- new facilities will cost $200-1988 RJR estimate- new facilities will cost $200-300 million300 million

• Product liabilityProduct liability

– ““...recent decision taken by the Tobacco Institute ...recent decision taken by the Tobacco Institute not to work actively in the development of self not to work actively in the development of self extinguishing cigarettes (for product liability extinguishing cigarettes (for product liability reasons)…”reasons)…” (Bates #109840413-0424)Bates #109840413-0424)

Reasons for Blocking Adoption Reasons for Blocking Adoption of Fire Safe Cigaretteof Fire Safe Cigarette

Summary of Political Summary of Political StrategiesStrategies

• Alter public perception of the fire safe issueAlter public perception of the fire safe issue

• Broaden issue to one of fire safety in generalBroaden issue to one of fire safety in general

• Co-opt firefighters, neutralize natural Co-opt firefighters, neutralize natural enemies and make allies where possibleenemies and make allies where possible

• Delay adoption through development of Delay adoption through development of protocols, definitions, etc.protocols, definitions, etc.

Industry Political Strategies: Industry Political Strategies: Co-optionCo-option““Who would normally be involved in the self-extinguishing cigarette Who would normally be involved in the self-extinguishing cigarette

on the other side of the fence? Probably the fire-fighting on the other side of the fence? Probably the fire-fighting community. As you know in the United States, we have put a huge community. As you know in the United States, we have put a huge amount of time into helping all the organized groups of amount of time into helping all the organized groups of professional and volunteer fire-fighters. They get such help from us professional and volunteer fire-fighters. They get such help from us that is monumental. And then when we need them to stand up that is monumental. And then when we need them to stand up and say, not cigarettes that cause fire in 99.9 percent of the cases, and say, not cigarettes that cause fire in 99.9 percent of the cases, we get their cooperation. But that's because we have cultivated we get their cooperation. But that's because we have cultivated them and helped them achieve some of their goals and we have them and helped them achieve some of their goals and we have seen that they are a potential enemy that has real credibility. seen that they are a potential enemy that has real credibility. That's the greatest credibility, your potential enemy. We had That's the greatest credibility, your potential enemy. We had turned them around and made allies, third party defenders for turned them around and made allies, third party defenders for ourselves. All of this involves a process of logic. To find common ourselves. All of this involves a process of logic. To find common ground, to find your natural friends; to find your natural enemies ground, to find your natural friends; to find your natural enemies and if possible, the ways in which you can neutralize them…”and if possible, the ways in which you can neutralize them…”

Source: Bates #2025421934/2000

TI Spending: Fire TI Spending: Fire OrganizationsOrganizations

1990 Budget($000)

1990 Estimated($000)

1991 Budget($000)

Grants to local firesafety organizations

120 80 100

National Volunteer FireCouncil

40 40 35

Zoelller & Associates(fire preventionconsultants)

40 40 20

Pan Education Inst. fireprevention education

25 25 15

National Assoc. of StateFire Marshals

- 10 15

Burn Concerns 20 - 10Congressional FireServices Institute

10 10 10

Int'l Association of FireChiefs

10 10 10

Int'l. Assoc. of BlackProfessional FireFighters

- 5 5

Miscellaneous(production ofmaterials, psa's, etc.)

35 30 35

TOTAL 320 270 270

Source: Bates #TIMN0390579-0803

Impact of Political StrategiesImpact of Political Strategies

Source: Industry Documents

FederalAction

Bill introduced toregulate cigarettes asfire hazard (1979)

Finds technically andeconomically feasible toproduce fire safecigarette (1987)

Methodology fordetermining ignitionpropensity published(1990)

IndustryResponse

"Smokers NeedWatchers" (personalresponsibility)campaign (1979)

"Real worldmethodology" questioned(1987)

Testing methodologydeveloped by TSG/TAGwill give contradictoryresults (1990)

Make fire-fightersinto "third-partydefenders forourselves" (1980's)

Fire safe cigarettes notconsumer acceptable(1987)

Consumers will behavemore carelessly with firesafe cigarettes (1991)

Call for reducedflammability offurniture andupholstery (1981)

Increased education andsmoke detectors arenecessary to decrease fires(1998)

Result Bill introduced todetermine testingmethodology forignition propensity(1987)

Bill introduced todetermine testingmethodology for ignitionpropensity (1987)

Federal inaction (ongoing)

Summary/RecommendationsSummary/Recommendations

• We now know that fire safe paper is technologically and commercially possible

• Thousands of lives can be saved with the adoption of fire safe cigarettes

• The industry has not voluntarily placed fire safe cigarettes on the market

• It is critical that state and/or federal fire safe legislation be passed

Industry Research on Fire Industry Research on Fire SafetySafety

• Use clear language to state point.Use clear language to state point.

• Use evidence both verbal and visual to Use evidence both verbal and visual to support your point.support your point.

• Amplify your point with an incident or Amplify your point with an incident or anecdote.anecdote.

• Develop a logical transition or bridge to your Develop a logical transition or bridge to your next point.next point.