Debunking previous theories, a new study found that smokers don't increase consumption while smoking low-level nicotine cigarettes.

One of the potential methods to reducing smoking is to reduce the nicotine levels in cigarettes. This reduces addiction without exposing the smoker to high levels of toxic chemicals. However, experts have expressed doubts about this method, saying that low levels of nicotine may increase the number of cigarettes a smokers consumes in order to attain that same nicotine level. Surprisingly, a new study by researchers from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Waterloo found that no such thing happens.

"One of the primary barriers to reducing nicotine levels is the belief that individuals who continue to smoke will smoke more cigarettes in an effort to extract the same nicotine levels, thereby exposing themselves to greater amounts of toxic chemicals. Our findings suggest this is not the case," said Professor David Hammond, of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Waterloo, and lead author on the paper, in a press statement. "The smokers were unable or unwilling to compensate when there was markedly less nicotine in the cigarette and when the experience of smoking is far less rewarding."

For the study, the researchers monitored the smoking behaviors of 72 adults as they switched to three types of cigarettes with markedly reduced nicotine levels. They noticed no change in participants' puffing behavior, number of cigarettes consumed or levels of toxic chemicals in their systems.

"There is ample evidence from inside and outside the tobacco industry that major reductions in the nicotine content of cigarettes would result in a less-addictive product," said Professor Hammond. "Overall, the impact of a less-addictive cigarette on reducing smoking uptake and cancer prevention is potentially massive."

The researchers used only Quest cigarettes for the study as it was the only brand, at the time of the study, that had cigarettes with low levels of nicotine.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology.