R.J. Reynolds Haunted by Deadly Legacy of Kent Asbestos Filters

R.J. Reynolds and a filter maker must pay $3.5 million to the estate of a Florida man, the state’s top court held this week. It’s a ruling that draws renewed attention to another, lesser known, deadly aspect of some cigarettes of the 1950s for which RJR is still being sued.

Kents were once touted as the safest smokes on the market because of their “extraordinary Micronite” filters which made them pure enough for even the “sensitive smoker” who worried about potential adverse health effects.

“The exclusive MICRONITE FILTER removes 7 times more nicotine and tars than any other leading cigarette ...