Reducing cigarette smoking: Research summary Does it reduce cancer risk?

Abstract

To assess whether cutting back on cigarettes reduces the amount of tobacco-specific carcinogens in the body, scientists at the University of Minnesota measured the level of carcinogen uptake in smokers who were reducing their cigarette consumption over 26 weeks. Overall reductions in carcinogen levels were seen, but the levels were modest and were proportionally less than the amount of cigarettes reduced per day.