The Kent Cigarettes with Asbestos Filters: One of the Most Dangerous Product Failures of the 1950s
Here’s the story:
Development of the Micronite Filter
In the 1950s, as the health risks of smoking were becoming increasingly apparent, cigarette manufacturers began searching for alternatives that appeared "healthier." The P. Lorillard Company, producer of Kent cigarettes, launched a new cigarette in 1952 featuring the so-called Micronite filter.
The Micronite filter was marketed as an innovation that offered protection against harmful substances in cigarette smoke. It was advertised with slogans like “The greatest health protection in cigarette history.” This was a major marketing strategy, and many consumers believed the filter would offer better protection.
Use of Asbestos in the Filter
What consumers didn’t know was that the Micronite filter contained a specific type of asbestos: crocidolite (blue asbestos), which is extremely dangerous and highly carcinogenic.
Crocidolite is one of the most hazardous forms of asbestos, due to its thin, sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled deep into the lungs. This dramatically increases the risk of diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma (an aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs and abdomen).
Health Risks and Consequences
Exposure to asbestos fibers while smoking Kent cigarettes turned out to be deadly. The crocidolite fibers could pass through the filter and be inhaled just like smoke particles.
The use of these filters continued until 1956, when the manufacturer stopped adding asbestos—likely under pressure from emerging health concerns and scientific evidence about the dangers of asbestos.
In the years that followed, the health risks became more widely known, and victims and their families began filing lawsuits against the P. Lorillard Company.
Lawsuits and Compensation
In the 1970s and 1980s, multiple lawsuits were filed by individuals who had become ill from smoking Kent cigarettes with asbestos filters. Some former workers who manufactured the filters—and were exposed to crocidolite daily—also became seriously ill.
These lawsuits led to substantial settlements and compensation for some victims. The case became a notorious example of how asbestos, even in consumer products like cigarettes, could lead to devastating consequences.
Impact on the Tobacco and Asbestos Industries
This scandal highlighted not only the deadly nature of asbestos but also the responsibility of companies to inform consumers of potential health risks. It helped spark stricter product safety regulations and contributed to tighter control over both the asbestos and tobacco industries.
In Summary
Kent cigarettes with asbestos-containing Micronite filters are a tragic example of a product marketed as "healthy" that was in fact highly dangerous. The story also reveals how long the dangers of asbestos were underestimated—and how the true risks only became clear after many people had already suffered the consequences.
Below you’ll find some photos and advertisements from the 1950s featuring the infamous cigarettes.
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