Fire safety of fire safe cigarettes: an International review and Dutch data
The European Union implemented the requirement for cigarettes to self-extinguish in order to reduce smoking-related fire deaths. However, the effectiveness of fire-safe cigarettes in reducing the number of fatalities is limited due to various factors such as socio-economic conditions, the ignition source, objects in the vicinity, and the conditions of the victims during the fire. Fire-safe cigarettes are primarily tested under controlled conditions and may not accurately represent real-life scenarios where residential fires start. The introduction of fire-safe cigarettes has shown mixed results in reducing smoking-related fire deaths, as some studies report significant decreases while others show no demonstrable effects. Other fire safety measures and improvements may also contribute to reducing such incidents.