The quest for less hazardous tobacco products has a long history. What direction is research taking? At CORESTA's 2002 meeting in New Orleans in late September, scientists provided an overview of latest developments. At the end of the 20th century, there were more than 1 billion smokers in the world who understood the risks of indulgence and who elected to persist with the habit. However, non-smokers are also exposed to the same risks, as many of the substances found in tobacco smoke and identified as toxic can also be found in large quantities in some foods and in car exhausts. The tobacco industry is working diligently to offer smokers a satisfying product with fewer health risks.