Filter element comprising smoke-altering material

The invention provides a filter element (26) of a smoking article (10) having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element (26) including a first region (32) extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element (26) and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region (36) extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by- side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross - section of the filter element (26) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region (36) into the first region (32), and further comprising a smoke -altering (40) material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.