Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site bbnccv.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!bbnccv!sdyer
From: sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.bio
Subject: Re: in search of a safer cigarette
Message-ID: <678@bbnccv.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Jun-85 12:11:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: bbnccv.678
Posted: Tue Jun 11 12:11:23 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Jun-85 07:37:00 EDT
References: <123@SCINEWS.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 16
Xref: watmath net.med:1617 net.bio:215

> I have heard that carbon monoxide poisoning is the most dangerous
> result of cigarette smoking.  If this is true, would it be possible
> to make cigarettes with filters that contain a substance (like hemoglobin)
> that would absorb the carbon monoxide before it's inhaled?  Do such
> subtances exist and, if so, would they be effective and safe when used
> in this manner?

How about a miniature catalytic converter! :-)  Actually, I believe that
carbon monoxide "poisoning" is probably not most dangerous side-effect
of cigarettes: chronically, the carcinogenic and irritant tars are probably
the worst, followed by, of course, the cardiovascular effects of nicotine.

-- 
/Steve Dyer
{decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA