the art that the shape of the curve of fig2 will be consistent although it may shift somewhat with different tobacco compositions in accordance with the invention the curve is believed characteristic and the described effect on sidestream reduction occurs in each case it is a further result of particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention that the cigarette ash is very similar to the ash on conventional cigarettes this is particularly significant with attapulgite clay fumed alumina and activated alumina since some other high surface area fillers such as fumed silica 380 m 2 g while reducing sidestream smoke tend to result in a dark ash modifying any conventional cigarette paper formulation by the addition of such fillers in accordance with the invention results in a decrease in the level of sidestream smoke however the effect of this treatment can be maximized by using paper with low porosity and by maintaining sheet bulk at a high level consistent with low porosity for a given level of filler addition lower porosity causes further decreases in sidestream smoke in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention the paper porosity is in the range of from 5 to 30 the porosities are expressed as coresta permeability superficial velocity in centimeters per minute of air flowing through a porous paper at a pressure differential of one centibar thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a sheet material adapted for use as a wrapper for smoking articles that fully satisfies the aims and advantages set forth above while the invention has been described.