'Safer' cigarette marketed in US
Some manufacturers are researching safer cigarettes
A cigarette claimed to be less harmful to health is being marketed to American smokers.
The Eclipse cigarette is being sold to a small number of customers in Texas, and over the internet.
A UK anti-smoking group has welcomed the launch - but warned smokers not to believe that the cigarette is 100% safe.
It is lit in the normal way, but instead of burning fully, the tobacco is heated until the nicotine is released.
Many of the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke are produced by full combustion, so the heating will reduce the amount of these being released.
It is also worsens chronic conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema.
'Best choice to quit'
Advertising for the Eclipse cigarette will say that that while the best choice for smokers who worry about their health is to quit, the next best choice is to smoke "safer" cigarettes.
Testing carried out by the company claims that smoking the cigarette lowers the risk of cancer, bronchitis and emphysema.
However, there are no long term studies which verify this.
It is unclear whether the chemicals produced by the new cigarette taste similar to those produced by ordinary cigarettes.
RJ Reynolds, the company behind Eclipse, marketed a no-smoke cigarette called Premier several years ago, but consumers rejected it because they did not like the taste.
The product has yet to be launched in the UK, and the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) broadly welcomed it.
Director Clive Bates said: "Basically it's the right approach for the manufacturers to take.
"However, if it is advertised as no-risk smoking it would be a disaster.
"I would like other manufacturers to be asked why they are not making products like this. It should become standard in the future."
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