Charcoal filters in cigarettes: safer or just a marketing gimmick?
NCT ID NCT07348679
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether charcoal-filtered cigarettes change how people smoke and how much harmful chemicals they breathe in. About 252 adult smokers who smoke at least 5 cigarettes a day will be randomly assigned to smoke either charcoal-filtered or regular cigarettes for 4 weeks. Researchers will measure their beliefs about the cigarettes, how they smoke them, and levels of toxins in their urine and breath.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- charcoal-filtered cigarettes
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help regulators understand whether charcoal-filtered cigarettes reduce harm or just mislead smokers.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage behavioral study, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to all smokers, and any perceived benefit could be due to marketing rather than actual harm reduction.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 252 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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21 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Eligible subjects will be: 1. Male and female smokers who are at least 21 years of age and self-report smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day for at least the past 6 months. 2. Smokers of primarily non-menthol cigarettes of brands other than Natural American Spirit. 3. Not currently undergoing smoking cessation treatment or trying to quit. 4. Able to communicate fluently in English (speaking, writing, and reading). 5. Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the combined consent and HIPAA form. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who self-report and/or present with the following criteria will not be eligible to participate in the study: Smoking Behavior 1. Use of menthol or Natural American Spirit cigarettes as preferred/regular brand (defined as using \>20% of the time). 2. Enrollment or plans to enroll in a smoking cessation program in the next month. 3. Provide an initial Carbon Monoxide (CO) reading \< 5 parts per million (ppm). Alcohol/Drugs 1. History of substance abuse (other than nicotine) in the past 12 months and/or currently receiving medical treatment for substance abuse. 2. Current alcohol consumption that exceeds 25 standard drinks/week. Medical 1. Women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, and/or lactating. 2. Any impairment including, but not limited to, visual, physical, and/or neurological impairments preventing the completion of procedures included within this protocol. Notable impairments will be evaluated by the PI and eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 3. Color blindness. 4. Serious or unstable disease within the past 12 months (e.g. heart disease, cancer). Applicable conditions will be evaluated by the Principal Investigator and eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Psychiatric As determined by self-report: 1. Lifetime history or current diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, and/or schizophrenia. 2. Current diagnosis of major depression. Subjects with a history of major depression, in remission for 6 months or longer, are considered eligible. Other Additionally, participants may be deemed ineligible for any of the following general reasons at any point throughout the study, as well as during the initial telephone screen, at the discretion of the PI: * Significant non-compliance with protocol and/or study design. * Past, current, anticipated, or pending enrollment in another research program over the study period that could potentially impact study data. * Any medical condition, illness, disorder, adverse event (AE), or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or significantly impact study performance.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Locations
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Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies
RECRUITINGNew Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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