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Pack Year

By , About.com Guide

Updated September 30, 2008

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Pack Year Stockxpert
Definition:
Pack year is a term used to describe the number of cigarettes a person has smoked over time. One pack year is defined as 20 manufactured cigarettes (one pack) smoked per day for one year.

Example:

I smoked 1 1/2 packs per day for 26 years, which equals 39 pack years:
    1 pack per day x 26 years = 26 pack years
    1/2 pack per day x 26 years = 13 pack years
    26 pack years + 13 pack years = 39 pack years

    See also: How Smoking Harms Us: Head to Toe

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