Harm Of Cigarettes Research Articles

Comparison of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Concentrations Generated by an Electrically Heated Cigarette Smoking System and a Conventional Cigarette

Smoking conventional lit-end cigarettes results in exposure of nonsmokers to potentially harmful cigarette smoke constituents present in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) generated by sidestream smoke emissions and exhaled mainstream smoke. ETS constituent concentrations generated by a conventional lit-end cigarette and a newly developed electrically heated cigarette smoking system (EHCSS) that produces only mainstream smoke and no sidestream smoke emissions were investigated in simulated “office” and “hospitality” environments with different levels of baseline indoor air quality. Smoking the EHCSS (International Organisation for Standardization yields: 5 mg tar, 0.3 mg nicotine, and 0.6 mg carbon monoxide) in simulated indoor environments resulted in significant reductions in ETS constituent concentrations compared to when smoking a representative lit-end cigarette (Marlboro: 6 mg tar, 0.5 mg nicotine, and 7 mg carbon monoxide). In direct comparisons, 24 of 29 measured smoke constituents (83%) showed mean reductions of greater than 90%, and 5 smoke constituents (17%) showed mean reductions between 80% and 90%. Gas–vapor phase ETS markers (nicotine and 3-ethenylpyridine) were reduced by an average of 97% (range 94–99%). Total respirable suspended particles, determined by online particle measurements and as gravimetric respirable suspended particles, were reduced by 90% (range 82–100%). The mean and standard deviation of the reduction of all constituents was 94 ± 4%, indicating that smoking the new EHCSS in simulated “office” and “hospitality” indoor environments resulted in substantial reductions of ETS constituents in indoor air.

Tobacco industry research and efforts to manipulate smoke particle size: Implications for product regulation

Over the past half-century of cigarette design, tobacco manufacturers have prioritized efficiency of delivery alongside ease of inhalation and use. As a result, the modern cigarette is uniquely effective at facilitating the absorption of nicotine as well as carcinogens and other toxins. The present study draws on internal tobacco company documents to assess industry consideration of the role of smoke particle size as a potentially controllable influence over inhalation patterns and lung exposure. Tobacco manufacturers evaluated particle size manipulation both as a means of controlling physical and sensory product attributes and as a possible approach to reducing health hazards related to exposure. Industry scientists concluded that the smoke aerosol particle distribution of conventional cigarettes, constructed within common parameters, falls within a narrow and effective inhalation range. However, the internal findings suggest that differences in smoke particle size distribution are possible through less conventional approaches to product design. We propose that particle size be included among the many design features to be considered in emerging tobacco product regulation. However, the present review does not address whether particle size regulation would be a plausible means of substantially reducing addictiveness or harmfulness of cigarettes, and therefore we do not propose it as a high-priority target for regulation.

Smoke from traditional commercial, harm reduction and research brand cigarettes impairs oviductal functioning in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in vitro

Cigarette smoke from 2R1 research brand cigarettes and specific toxicants in smoke inhibit oviductal functioning. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that smoke from commercial cigarettes, including harm reduction cigarettes, inhibits oviductal functioning and to measure the concentration of previously identified toxicants in smoke from research and commercial cigarettes. Mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) smoke solutions from two research, six traditional commercial and three harm reduction brands were tested in vitro using an oviductal assay that measures ciliary beat frequency, oocyte retrieval rate and smooth muscle contraction. Generally, smoke from each brand of cigarette was inhibitory in the three oviductal bioassays. SS, the major component of environmental tobacco smoke, was usually more inhibitory than MS, the smoke inhaled by active smokers. Nine cigarette toxicants, previously shown to be highly inhibitory in the oviductal bioassays, were quantified in MS and SS. 4-Methylpyridine, which was inhibitory by itself in picomolar doses, was present in the highest concentration in MS and SS solutions from all brands tested. In general, toxicant concentrations were higher in SS than in MS solutions. These data show that commercial brands of cigarettes, including harm reduction cigarettes, contain toxicants that inhibit biological processes in the oviduct and could affect reproductive outcomes.

Smoking and reproduction: The oviduct as a target of cigarette smoke

The oviduct is an exquisitely designed organ that functions in picking-up ovulated oocytes, transporting gametes in opposite directions to the site of fertilization, providing a suitable environment for fertilization and early development, and transporting preimplantation embryos to the uterus. A variety of biological processes can be studied in oviducts making them an excellent model for toxicological studies. This review considers the role of the oviduct in oocyte pick-up and embryo transport and the evidence that chemicals in both mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke impair these oviductal functions. Epidemiological data have repeatedly shown that women who smoke are at increased risk for a variety of reproductive problems, including ectopic pregnancy, delay to conception, and infertility. In vivo and in vitro studies indicate the oviduct is targeted by smoke components in a manner that could explain some of the epidemiological data. Comparisons between the toxicity of smoke from different types of cigarettes, including harm reduction cigarettes, are discussed, and the chemicals in smoke that impair oviductal functioning are reviewed.

Estimating the Health Impacts of Tobacco Harm Reduction Policies: A Simulation Modeling Approach

With adult smoking prevalence rates declining too slowly to reach national objectives, opinion leaders are considering policies to improve tobacco-related outcomes by regulating the composition of cigarettes to be (1) less harmful and/or (2) less addictive. Because harm reduction efforts may actually encourage higher cigarette consumption by promoting a safer image, and addictiveness reduction may increase the harmfulness of cigarettes by encouraging compensatory smoking behaviors, policymakers must consider the tradeoffs between these two approaches when proposing legislation to control cigarette content. To estimate health impacts, we developed a dynamic computer model simulating changes in the age- and gender-specific smoking behaviors of the U.S. population over time. Secondary data for model parameters were obtained from publicly available sources. Population health impacts were measured as change in smoking prevalence and the change in cumulative quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in the U.S. population over 75 years. According to the risk-use threshold matrix generated by the simulation, modifying cigarettes to reduce their harmfulness and/or addictiveness could result in important gains to the nation's health. Addictiveness reduction efforts producing a 60% improvement in smoking behavior change probabilities would produce a net gain in population health at every plausible level of increase of smoking-related harm that was modeled. A 40% reduction in smoking-related harm would produce a net QALY gain at every level of behavior change considered. This research should prove useful to policymakers as they contemplate giving the FDA the authority to regulate the composition of cigarettes.

Of Skiers, Smokers And Amelioration Of The World

Dear Colleagues, From passive-sports point of view, football (soccer) is number 1 sport in Austria. Unfortunately, Austrian national football team is anything but well known for playing football, and honestly, from time to time I thought about starting a public opinion poll to abolish national Austrian football team. However, we (the Austrians) are doing our best to compensate for this annoyance, and in fact we found things that we are really good in: SKIING. Yes, Austrians are definitely number one in world. – at least for moment.... Only recently, it seems that we have also managed to become European champions with ambitions to truly become world champions in another thing: SMOKING. According to World Health Organization (WHO), Austria has reached 47% smokers in adult population and a horrific 31.5% smokers among youngsters http://data.euro.who.int/?TabID=2404. Years and years of hard work doing nothing but leaving field to tobacco industry, finally enabled Austrian politicians and population to achieve this goal. In summary, Austria is probably worst example among developed countries concerning anti-smoking campaigning, protection of non-smokers from passive smoking, and preventing people from starting smoking as well as helping people to quit smoking. In vast contrast, a number of countries like USA and Sweden have made excellent progress in protecting non-smokers, and in reducing smoking prevalence in their population below 20%. However, as you all know situation in world and especially among poor and young is becoming worse. Still, in view of many scientists smoking is the most preventable risk factor for diseases like cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Although this may be true from a theoretical point of view, statistics of World Health Organisation tell a different story, estimating that by 2020 smoking will become largest single health problem in world, causing 8.4 million deaths a year. Why should reducing number of smokers be easier compared to reducing number of people suffering from obesity? Of course there is no sense in charging up one health problem against another, but we have to face truth that smoking is not easily preventable. Without doubt, a lot of preventive strategies and quitting programs are successful and smoking prevention should and will clearly stay number one in fight against tobacco addiction and diseases. I am convinced that in end, only tool that may completely solve problem in future is prevention, but facing up to WHO statistics for a moment, we have to think about additional strategies. E.g.: In past, carcinogenic potential of smoke and smoke chemicals has been analysed in great detail – this knowledge could now be used to generate a less harmful cigarette. Of course we do not need less harmful in public mind but we should think about extending research efforts on reducing deleterious health effects of smoke, to counteract expected increase in incidence of smoking caused diseases. Having goal of a tobacco free society in our minds, we must not forget that humans are suffering from tobacco caused diseases now, tomorrow and also in next decades, which can in part be prevented by reducing toxicity of smoke. I am aware that this is a very controversial issue, and that only recently tobacco industry has claimed to bring healthier to market, which is without doubt a primitive tobacco commercial. Although, I am not completely sure if it would be advantageous to have a real less harmful cigarette (loss of determent), I am sure that leaving toxicity of cigarettes as it is will cause a lot of morbidity and mortality. With this article, I would like to start a discussion on following issue: Why shouldn't it make sense to intensify efforts to reduce number of active and passive smokers AND reduce toxicity of smoke?

A Premiere example of the illusion of harm reduction cigarettes in the 1990s

Objective: To use the product launch of Player’s Premiere as a case study for understanding the new cigarette product development process during the 1990s. We determine the (in)validity of industry...

The Institute of Medicine report on smoking: a blueprint for a renewed public health policy.

The Institute of Medicine report on smoking: a blueprint for a renewed public health policy.

Age-related differences in adolescent smokers' and nonsmokers' assessments of the relative addictiveness and health harmfulness of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana.

The present work was undertaken to determine how general beliefs about various substances and substance use behaviors change during adolescence. Secondary analyses were carried out on the telephone interview responses of 1,200 adolescent smokers and nonsmokers between the ages of 12 and 17. The specific beliefs regarding which substances were hardest to stop using and which were the most harmful to one's health by smoking status and age were compared using Chi-squared analyses for univariate comparisons, and polytomous logistic regression for multivariate analyses. Results revealed that the youngest cohort believed that marijuana was the substance most difficult to stop using while the oldest cohort believed that cigarettes were the hardest to stop using. A similar pattern was observed regarding which substance was the most harmful to one's health. While smokers believed that cigarettes were both the hardest to stop using and the most harmful, nonsmokers were divided between cigarettes and marijuana as the hardest to stop using, and indicated that marijuana, rather than cigarettes, were most harmful. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for substance abuse prevention and the development of relative risk assessments.

The less harmful cigarette

Risk assessment shows that the adverse effects of cigarette smoking on human health are clearly related to the total consumption of cigarettes. Such dose-response is evident from data on the incidence of lung and larynx cancer and is also supported by results from bioassays with Syrian golden hamsters and mice. The concept of a less harmful cigarette, therefore, involves primarily a reduction of the quantities of tar and nicotine in cigarette smoke. The identification of tumorigenic and toxic tobacco smoke constituents and the study of their formation during smoking has guided the development of products with 40–60% reduction of sales-weighted tar and nicotine levels in most western countries. These changes have been effected mainly through development of efficient filter tips, through selection of specific tobacco types, and modifications in tobacco blends, including the technology of reconstituted tobacco preparation. This presentation discusses details of the development of cigarettes with reduced levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide. It is emphasized that the risk for diseases associated with tobacco usage can be eliminated only by abstention from smoking, but that a risk reduction through product modification has been achieved and may be further improved.

Estimating the hazards of "less hazardous" cigarettes. I. Tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, and total aldehyde deliveries of Canadian cigarettes.

The tar, nicotine, CO, HCN, total aldehyde, and acrolein deliveries of 102 brands of Canadian cigarettes have been determined. On the basis of these deliveries, 15 brands (9% of sales) were categorized as low hazard and 9 brands (10% of sales) as high hazards. All six constituents were used for the classification since for most brands tar was a poor indicator of gas-phase deliveries. As a result, smokers who indiscriminately switch to a brand with a lower tar delivery may inadvertently increase their exposure to gas-phase constituents such as CO and increase their risk of smoking-related pathology. With respect to Canadian cigarettes, the choice of a 30-mm standard butt length may result in omission of some of the available tobacco from the testing procedure, thus reducing the value of tar level as a guide to choosing a less harmful cigarette.

Tobacco and Health

There are about 54 million smokers in the United States although overwhelming evidence shows that smoking is causatively related to lung cancer myocardial infarction and other diseases. Public awareness campaigns have reduced the number of smokers among adults 33% for men 15% women but adolescent smoking rates continue to rise. Effective educational programs must address the underlying causes of smoking and teach students to cope with the social and psychologic pressures that induce the habit. For adults the traditional approaches to quitting are hypnosis group and individual counseling and learning theory strategy. The long-term effects of these programs are not encouraging. Reinforcement over a period of time is needed. Less harmful cigarettes utilize tobacco flavoring agents the effects of which have yet to be tested. Research has not proven the risk effects of low tar cigarettes but higher educated consumers especially men have chosen to use them. Most patients who now have tobacco related diseases began by smoking nonfilter cigarettes. A long-term smoking program administered by a professional would cost about $80 per year.

Reactions to cigarettes as a function of nicotine and "tar".

Experiments carried out to examine the effects of nicotine and "tar" on the extent of and subjective reactions to cigarette smoking. It was confirmed that smokers rate commercial, low-nicotine cigarettes as less "strong" and less "satisfying" than their usual brands. Since such cigarettes deliver reduced amounts of tar as well as of nicotine, an experiment to distinguish between the two was carried out with special cigarettes. Ratings of "strength" were directly related to nicotine but were not affected by tar. The numbers of cigarettes smoked fell slightly as their estimated delivery of nicotine increased, but tar had no effect on this index. The urinary excretion of nicotine was correlated with the rated yields of nicotine for the different cigarettes, but there was also evidence that subjects tended to adjust their manner of smoking so as to titrate their doses of nicotine. The results are interpreted as indicating a role for nicotine, but not for tar, in the maintenance of cigarette smoking behavior, and as support for the view that less harmful cigarettes should have a high yield of nicotine relative to tar.

Bioassay Methods in the Development of Less Harmful Cigarettes: Assets and Liabilities<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1">1</xref><xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2">2</xref>

Journal Article Bioassay Methods in the Development of Less Harmful Cigarettes: Assets and Liabilities Get access F. Homburger, M.D. F. Homburger, M.D. Bio-Research Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 48, Issue 6, June 1972, Pages 1833–1840, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/48.6.1833 Published: 01 June 1972