# Do they spray tar on cigarettes during manufacturing as a burning accelerant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407 "2011-04-22T22:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/1 "2011-04-22T22:01:37Z")
I was talking to the husband of a friend of mine, and we were discussing smoking laws and he offered the historical factoid that cigarettes got much more dangerous when they went to industrial manufacturing them in huge quantities in that they sprayed accelerant on the leaves to keep the cigarette lit. He said without this it would be very difficult for the cigarette to stay lit. He said this accelerant was the “tar” in cigarettes that was so dangerous. I was polite and expressed surprise that i did not know that. I was under the impression the the "tar’ is natural byproduct of the tobacco burning and has nothing to do with added chemicals during manufacturing. Is he right or not? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/2 "2011-04-22T23:06:53Z")
There are [599 additives to cigarette tobacco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_additives_in_cigarettes) reported by American cigarette manufacturers to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and tar is not on that list. I don’t think tar would accelerate burning anyway, as it is a product of burning, not a precursor. It is entirely possible that one of the 599 additives is used to maintain burning, however. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/3 "2011-04-22T23:12:28Z")
I believe that the cigarette industry has no specific definition of tar as it relates to their product, but in general, tar is taken to refer to the (usually sticky) residue of the combustion of the leaves. I don’t know why dried leaves wrapped in paper would need an accelerant, though, and your politeness avoided raising this obvious question. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/4 "2011-04-23T03:07:16Z")
As **Fear Itself** points out, tar is a product of combustion of the tobacco leaves and probably the paper…tars can also be produced by distilling wood smoke. The stuff added to pre-rolled cigarettes to aid combustion is [potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpeter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate). It is generally not used in cigars and pipe tobacco, which is why they will go out if one does not continually puff on them. SS ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/5 "2011-04-23T04:45:03Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > As **Fear Itself** points out, tar is a product of combustion of the tobacco leaves and probably the paper…tars can also be produced by distilling wood smoke. The stuff added to pre-rolled cigarettes to aid combustion is [potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpeter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate). It is generally not used in cigars and pipe tobacco, which is why they will go out if one does not continually puff on them. > SS Thanks to everyone for info.! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/6 "2011-04-23T09:43:43Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > As **Fear Itself** points out, tar is a product of combustion of the tobacco leaves and probably the paper…tars can also be produced by distilling wood smoke. The stuff added to pre-rolled cigarettes to aid combustion is [potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpeter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate). It is generally not used in cigars and pipe tobacco, which is why they will go out if one does not continually puff on them. > SS I had seen that cited several places as well, but potassium nitrate does not appear on the list of additives that I cited. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/7 "2011-04-23T10:40:36Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I don’t know why dried leaves wrapped in paper would need an accelerant, though[…]. Spoken as a man who has never smoked rolled-up cigarettes (or a joint) :). These things go out all the damn time, yet they’re still just paper+tobacco strands. I have no idea what makes industrial cigarettes stay lit, and I’m not convinced that it has to do with a chemical as it possibly has something to do with the tobacco being shredded more finely and/or dried up more and/or less packed up than hand rolled. But one thing for sure: dry leaves and paper don’t necessarily burn all that well. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/8 "2011-04-23T13:35:02Z")
There are something like 135 chemicals in the paper, printing ink, glue, and filter of a cigarette. These additives are to improve the whiteness of the paper and the appearance of the ash, as well as providing uniformity to the burn rate. They include talc, aluminum, titanium oxide, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene glycol, and cellulose acetate - none of which your friend mentioned, and probably should have in order to avoid the word ‘tar.’ ---
**Author:** ![Hairy\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Hairy\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hairy_Bob)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/9 "2011-04-23T13:39:23Z")
I was always of the assumption that the reason a pre-rolled would burn all the way down if left was because the tobacco was dry, whereas rolling tobacco is sold wet (simply to make it easier to roll, or so they can charge you twice as much for what is mostly water?) I’m aware that copious amounts of additives are used, but never thought an accelerant would be necessary. Mind you, I bet most of those 599 chemicals aren’t necessary to produce something that works as a cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/10 "2011-04-24T09:51:14Z")
**Hairy Bob** , rolling tobacco is not sold wet. If it was, it would quickly become mouldy. Tailor made cigarettes burn all the way once they’re lit because of the added chemicals. Unlike rollies, they’re not reliant on puffing to keep them alight. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/11 "2011-04-24T10:00:26Z")
American Spirit cigarettes are nothing but tobacco, with no additives. Now, that’s on the tobacco itself, I don’t know if they add anything to the paper holding it together. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/12 "2011-04-24T12:49:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > There are [599 additives to cigarette tobacco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_additives_in_cigarettes) reported by American cigarette manufacturers to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and tar is not on that list. I don’t think tar would accelerate burning anyway, as it is a product of burning, not a precursor. It is entirely possible that one of the 599 additives is used to maintain burning, however. This has to be one of the most amazing facts I have ever heard. Surely these 599 additives are not added one by one; there must be some substance added to the cigarettes that contains most of them. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/13 "2011-04-24T13:18:32Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > … The stuff added to pre-rolled cigarettes to aid combustion is [potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpeter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate). It is generally not used in cigars and pipe tobacco, which is why they will go out if one does not continually puff on them. > SS > [@](#): > > … It is also added to pre-rolled cigarettes to maintain an even burn of the tobacco.[8] … 8, > [@](#): > > [**Abstract**](http://tobaccodocuments.org/product_design/00382055-2062.html) > > Describes laboratory studies in which “substantial increases in smoke pH and smoke impact [were] obtained by the application of certain calcium and potassium compounds” that naturally occur in tobacco. Proposes proper application of compounds “could be useful for improving cigarette impact and thus, consumer satisfaction.” Notes that supplementation of naturally occurring compounds to increase alkalinity in cigarettes would eliminate need for “extensive toxicity studies.” … > … > Hypothesis > Nicotine transport, transfer, and uptake > Design changes which alter nicotine delivery or effect how the product causes and maintains dependence, including transfer of nicotine from tobacco to smoke, and uptake into the body. > Use of additives > Modification of tobacco products through use of additives and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity. > Free Nicotine > Use of tobacco processing/ blends > Modification of tobacco products through changes in tobacco processing and use of blends, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity. … Doesn’t seem to have much (anything) to do with combustion, giving the smoker the best nicotine high for their buck on the other hand. I’ve smoked it all, but I’m more familiar with hand rolled anything and pipes than cigars. The first big difference between pre-rolled cigarettes and everything else is the filter. The filter makes it harder to take a drag (just tried it, much easier with the filter ripped off) so the tobacco has to be looser (I can usually get a 1/4" to 3/8" of empty space at the end of one just by taping a cigarette on a hard surface). Cigars, and pipes are more tightly packed, because if they’re not they smoke too “hot”. There’s a sweet spot when you’re packing a pipe, too tight and it’s too hard to puff, too loose and the tobacco burns too fast making the smoke hot in your mouth and heating the bowl (which can seriously damage it). How “cool” a pipe smokes is usually the first quality my brother considers when answering which of his ~100 pipes is his favorite. It’s also largely why [churchwardens](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchwarden_pipe) exist. Tight packing also reduces the air available for combustion. An ember in a big fluffy bundle of tinder will burst into flames with a tiny puff of air, a tight tinder bundle and the ember just dies. This is even worse in a pipe bowl since the only part of the “cherry” that can get air is the top, cigars get enough air but they’re too tightly packed, cigarettes are pretty much the perfect combination to keep the ember smoldering. The second is the moisture content of the tobacco. In order of moisture content it’s; pipe tobacco \> cigars \> loose cigarette tobacco \> pre-rolled cigarettes. Pre-rolled cigarette packaging doesn’t seem to put much importance on maintaining moisture, with cigars it’s a minor obsession. (Pipe tobacco is so moist that towards the end of a bowl you can hear it and not “resting” a pipe for at least a day is a great way to saturate a wood bowl and get it to start rotting.) That moisture has to be driven off before the tobacco can burn, that reduces the temperature of the “cherry”. Tightly packed, moist, tobacco just burns to slowly to keep the “cherry” going, not because they don’t add combustion aids. Since one of the “Holy Grails” of the cigarette business has been creating a self-extinguishing cigarette that doesn’t involve making any real changes\* to the cigarette itself. (\*anything else makes for legal problems) I’m really doubting they add anything to make cigarettes burn faster. (Hell, if you’ve ever tried to smoke while playing video games (or typing posts :smack:) ya know they burn too damned fast.) CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Oukile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@Oukile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oukile)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/14 "2011-04-24T14:29:21Z")
There is definitely an accelerant in the paper. I used to smoke both hand-rolled and manufactured cigarettes and notice the difference. One day I tried once to ‘switch’ the tobacco and the paper, i.e.: - I rolled a cigarette using the tobacco from a manufactured cigarette and normal rolling paper: slow combustion and would extinguish. - I took the paper from a manufactured cigarette, transferred some gum from rolling paper onto it and used it to make a cigarette with normal rolling tobacco. Result: fast and uninterrupted combustion. Conclusion: it’s the paper ! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/15 "2011-04-24T14:35:59Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Since one of the “Holy Grails” of the cigarette business has been creating a self-extinguishing cigarette…! Cite? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/16 "2011-04-24T17:38:12Z")
IM(limited)E, American Spirit cigarettes really do go out more easily than other big-name commercial brands. I had an ex who loved them, and if he set one in an ashtray, it’d put itself out fairly quickly. Not to add fuel to the tobacco fire, but I feel like inhaling burning plant matter is probably bad enough on its own without Big Tobacco having to add anything to it to make it more so. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/17 "2011-04-25T00:10:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Cite? I don’t know about “holy grail”, but fire-safe cigarettes have been required by law in the U.S. (everywhere but Wyoming) for a few years now. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-spray-tar-on-cigarettes-during-manufacturing-as-a-burning-accelerant/579407/18 "2011-04-25T00:52:24Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > I don’t know about “holy grail”, but fire-safe cigarettes have been required by law in the U.S. (everywhere but Wyoming) for a few years now. Do the major tobacco companies really make specific, custom batches of cigarettes just for the (what must be rather small) Wyoming market?