Tobacco Products Research Articles

The effect of national school health strategy components on the quality of health services: An Analytical research in Baghdad Governorate

Purpose: The research objective is to diagnose the extent to which the National School Health Strategy contributes to the quality of health services. Theoretical framework: The quality of health services can provide schools with benefits through building a healthy school community in line with the sustainable development goals, especially regarding quality education, good health, and well-being and through school health, we may be improving the health and well-being of elementary and secondary students, and the necessity of providing healthy foods reduction of fat content in school meals, and awareness to prevent the use of tobacco products and drugs. Design/methodology/approach: The research relied on the descriptive -analytical method and the research sample is a random sample of primary schools (governmental and private). The research tool is represented by using a questionnaire to collect data. Findings: Although there is a big school community represented by students compared to their society, studies in most countries of the world are still limited in discussing the quality of health services provided to them and the limited solutions. Research, Practical & Social implications: We suggest future research to evaluate the national school health strategy: a comparative study between two governorates. Originality/value: The results indicate that commitment to implementing school health programs positively affects the quality of health services provided to students of school age and that any defect in their application reflects negatively on the health of students currently and society in the future.

Mental health and support for rigorous tobacco control strategies in South Australia

IntroductionTobacco endgame strategy includes policies to end the tobacco epidemic. As tobacco smoking prevalence is higher among people with mental health conditions (MHC), understanding the impact of rigorous tobacco control...

Health Literacy and Health-Related Habits among Conscripts in the Norwegian Armed Forces-A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Although health information is widely available to the Norwegian population a lack of health literacy is still common and considered a public health challenge. However, there is limited information on the health literacy of the adolescent population in Norway. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess health literacy and self-reported health habits among soldiers in basic military training, both in field, camp, and home settings. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate which health habits characterize soldiers with inadequate health literacy. An electronic questionnaire was sent out to conscripts who completed first-time military service in 2022 and was answered by 2,225 conscripts. Descriptive statistics were performed using cross-tabulations, correlations, and chi-squared tests. The survey is part of an internal quality study of the Norwegian Armed Forces routines. It is approved by the Norwegian Armed Forces joint medical services. In the study population, 43% scored inadequate health literacy on the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-Q12 (HLS-Q12), and 57% scored adequate health literacy. We found a significant difference between those having inadequate and adequate HLS-Q12 scores in categories of self-rated health habits of oral health and diet with lower scores in the inadequate score group. The use of tobacco during field exercise in camp and at home was higher in the group of conscripts with adequate health literacy scores. The conscripts generally reported a lower standard of health habits during field exercises with significantly less brushing and flossing, higher use of tobacco products and higher consumption of energy drinks and sugary snacks compared to reported habits in camp and at home. The results from our study suggest that the conscripts in the Norwegian Armed Forces have a lower health literacy than the general population, and this is reflected in reported higher frequency of unhealthy habits in service settings than at home. The Armed Forces have an opportunity to take responsibility to optimize the health skills of their soldiers and to encourage them to make informed decisions about their own health. Improved adaptation to the national recommendations regarding nutrition, tobacco use, and oral health are areas having the potential to greatly improve the overall health habits of conscripts.

Estimating the weight of consumed tobacco product waste in various Indian states: a novel method to assess the potential burden of tobacco product waste

IntroductionThe direct morbidity and mortality caused by tobacco are well documented, but such products also contribute to a range of environmental pollutants resulting from tobacco product waste. No previous studies...

Can switching from cigarettes to heated tobacco products reduce consequences of pulmonary infection?

While tobacco industry data suggests that switching from combustible cigarettes to heated tobacco products (HTPs), like IQOS, may reduce the users' exposure to respiratory toxicants, it is not known if using HTPs impacts the outcomes of acute respiratory infections. Does switching from cigarettes to HTPs improve responses to pulmonary infection. We conducted experiments in which 3 groups of mice were pre-exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks, followed by 8-week exposure to (1) HTPs (tobacco product switching), (2) air (smoking cessation), or (3) continued exposure to cigarette smoke. Pulmonary bacterial clearance and surrogate markers of lung damage were assessed as study outcomes. Significantly compromised clearance of bacteria from the lungs post-acute challenge occurred in both the switching group and in mice continuously exposed to cigarette smoke. Bacterial clearance, inflammatory T-cell infiltration into the lungs, and albumin leak improved at 12h post-acute challenge in the switching group compared to mice continuously exposed to cigarette smoke. Bacterial clearance, total lung immune-cell infiltration, inflammatory T-cell infiltration into the lungs, the content of total proteins in the BAL, and albumin leak measured post-acute challenge were compromised in the switching group compared to mice in the cessation group. Switching from cigarettes to HTPs did not improve lung myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase levels (markers for lung inflammation and damage), which, however, were significantly reduced in the cessation group. This study reveals only a modest improvement in respiratory infection outcomes after switching exposure from cigarettes to HTPs and significantly compromised outcomes compared to a complete cessation of exposure to all tobacco products.

The Effects of Ubiquinone on the Antioxidant System in Male Rats Exposed to Saccharin-Induced the Hepatic Toxicity

Saccharin (Sac) is a widely used artificial sweetener with significant applications in the food industry, pharmaceutical formulations, and tobacco products. Despite its popularity, saccharin has drawn attention due to its potential carcinogenic effects and associations with various health risks, including renal impairment, hepatic dysfunction, obesity, and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Ubiquinone, or coenzyme Q10 (COQ10), on liver toxicity induced by saccharin, focusing on oxidative stress and antioxidant markers. In this experiment, rats were divided into six groups of ten. The control group received no treatment, while the second group was administered COQ10 at a dosage of 20 mg per kilogram of body weight. The third and fourth groups were given saccharin at 1/10 and 1/20 of the lethal dose 50 (LD50), respectively. The fifth and sixth groups received saccharin at the same dosages as the third and fourth groups, but with additional COQ10 supplementation. All treatments were administered orally for 30 days, after which liver tissues were collected to assess oxidative stress and antioxidant markers. The results revealed that saccharin significantly increased oxidative stress in the liver, as evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Additionally, saccharin-treated groups exhibited a marked decrease in antioxidant markers, including reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, the groups that received COQ10 alongside saccharin showed significant improvement, with oxidative stress and antioxidant levels nearly returning to those observed in the control group. These findings suggest that saccharin consumption promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species and contributes to liver damage, characterized by necrotic hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilatation, and inflammatory infiltration. The protective effects of COQ10 in mitigating saccharin-induced oxidative stress highlight its potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing liver damage associated with saccharin intake.

Environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and hazards of chemicals in e-cigarette e-liquids: short-listing chemicals for risk assessments

Background/MethodsIncreased use and sales of e-cigarettes raises concerns about the potential environmental impacts throughout their life-cycle. However, few available research studies focus on the environmental impacts and ecotoxicity of e-cigarettes....

Retailer experiences with tobacco sales bans: lessons from two early adopter jurisdictions

BackgroundBeverly Hills and Manhattan Beach, California, are the first two US cities to prohibit the sale of tobacco products, passing ordinances that went into effect on 1 January 2021. We...

Is tobacco consumption a risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a prevalent exudative maculopathy. Understanding risk factors for CSC is important for disease prevention and to provide evidence-based advice to patients. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature and performed meta-analysis on the association between tobacco consumption and CSC. We searched 12 literature databases on May 5, 2024, and identified 11 eligible studies of 27 595 patients with CSC and 105 354 control individuals. Studies were predominantly clinic-based case-control studies. We calculated a summary estimate of tobacco consumption as a risk factor for CSC at an odds ratio of 2.99 (95% CI: 1.82-4.93, p = 0.000017), which remained statistically significant in the sensitivity analyses. The exact mechanism by which tobacco consumption contribute to the pathophysiology of CSC remains unclear, although several potential hypotheses exist. However, tobacco consumption is a modifiable behaviour and tobacco cessation is an actionable advice with which patients with CSC themselves can play a large role in disease management. Further studies are warranted to understand the impact of tobacco cessation for risk modification and for the prognosis of patients who already have CSC.

Determination of risk factors influencing substance use among Turkish-origin immigrants in Germany.

Increasing international migration poses unique challenges, especially regarding health outcomes and behaviors such as substance use. This study aims to identify risk factors influencing substance use among Turkish-origin immigrants in Germany. Data were obtained from the STEPS survey conducted by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) in 2021 in Germany. A total of 1157 participants were selected through a quota sampling method. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and logistic regression utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics 21. The study found a significant association between substance use and variables such as generation status, age, and sex. Third-generation immigrants showed a higher propensity for substance use compared to the first and second generations. Significant relationships were also observed between substance use and other risk behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. Substance use among Turkish-origin immigrants in Germany is influenced by generational status, with younger and third-generation individuals being at higher risk. Additionally, tobacco and alcohol use are strong predictors of substance use, highlighting the need for targeted interventions, especially for young migrants.

Interventions for Preventing Tobacco Uptake among Adolescents within School Setting in South-East Asia region: A Systematic Review

Abstract Background Tobacco users disproportionately reside in lower-and-middle income countries, with many people beginning consumption of tobacco in adolescence. Countries employ interventions in schools as a means of providing health education thereby creating mass awareness among them. However, research has mostly restricted to developed nations. Objective To examine the impact of interventions implemented in preventing tobacco uptake among adolescents in school setting in South-East Asia region. Method The protocol was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42022337341). Systematic search was conducted on 6 databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest and Web of Science. Randomized Control Trials (RCT) and Cluster RCT conducted in school set-up in South-East Asia among adolescents below 18 years’ age were included. Articles between timeline 2002–2022 were considered. Results From a total of 963 articles, total of 13 studies were included. Four were RCT, while nine were Cluster RCT. Most of the studies were targeted at change in prevalence, followed change in knowledge and attitude towards tobacco and impact on susceptibility to use tobacco. Nine studies had interventions based on Health Promoting School Framework, three were Peer-led Interventions and one was Counsellor-centred Intervention. Risk of Bias assessment revealed eight studies had low risk of bias, two had some concerns while three were high risk studies. Conclusion Interventions that focus on building a holistic environment and go beyond the usual classroom environment have primarily been implemented and found to be effective in this region. There is a need for strong, high-quality RCT studies with standardised evaluation techniques to combat tobacco use among adolescents.

E-cigarette retail outlets in Mexico: a country that bans the sale.

Restrictive e-cigarette policies have not allowed for the characterization of the sale of these tobacco products in the countries where they are implemented. This is because it is believed that there are no stores. However, the use of e-cigarettes persists in these countries. A content analysis of electronic cigarette points of sale through the internet in Mexico was conducted. Cross-sectional study. Structured searches were performed in the Google Maps search engine with the terms "electronic cigarette store" and "vape store" in combination with the name of each state of Mexico, in the period from October 2021 to February 2022. A total of 695 e-cigarette stores were located, of which 481 (69.2%) were physical stores, 207 hybrid stores (29.8%), 4 online stores (0.6%) and 3 (0.4%) vending machines. A total of 316 e-cigarette brands and 578 vape liquid brands were identified. The sales attraction strategy they used the most was free shipping of products (85.8%). Stores used WhatsApp (92.5%), Facebook (86.3%) and Instagram (74.4%) to promote their products. Only 35.1% of stores checked the age of their customers, of which, 95.9% asked if the customer was of legal age and 4.1% asked for the date of birth. In addition, 25.6% of the stores warned about nicotine addiction and 24.2% specifically about the ingredients of the liquids. E-cigarettes are widely available and marketed in a variety of retail outlets in Mexico. The high number of stores, brands of liquids, and e-cigarettes indicates non-compliance with existing regulations. E-cigarette consumption has increased globally, even in countries with restrictive regulations. However, there is limited data on the density and characteristics of vape stores in low- and middle-income countries with restrictive regulations. This study found no significant differences in e-cigarette sales between countries with permissive and restrictive regulations. Therefore, it is suggested that, in addition to establishing restrictive policies on the sale of e-cigarettes, their enforcement should also be monitored. Countries with restrictive measures should regulate Internet sales and promotion of e-cigarettes with greater emphasis.

Health Risks Associated with Adopting New-Generation Disposable Products Among Young Adults Who Use E-Cigarettes.

New-generation disposable e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among young adults in the USA since the FDA's partial flavor ban. This study aims to examine longitudinal changes in health risks among young adults who adopted these novel products, as well as the health effects of device types beyond the effects of other important e-cigarette characteristics. This study recruited e-cigarette users via voluntary response sampling from three college campuses in the USA to respond to four-wave online surveys conducted in four consecutive semesters. Among the participants who adopted disposables during the study, their health risks (dependence symptoms, respiratory symptoms, combustible tobacco use) and e-cigarette consumption characteristics (use frequency, nicotine concentration and flavors) before and after the adoption were compared using paired-sample t- or McNemar's tests. Generalized linear mixed models with a random intercept were conducted on data from the entire sample to investigate the effects of device type (tank, cartridge/pod, disposable) on health risks, controlling for other e-cigarette consumption characteristics. The study sample of 650 e-cigarette users were, on average, 20 years old, with 49% being male, 70% being White, and 13% being Hispanic. Adopting disposables may increase secondary dependence motives (t = 2.42, p < 0.05) and the use of higher levels of nicotine concentration (t = 2.09, p < 0.05) and sweet flavors (x2 = 22.53, p < 0.05) but decrease the number of times of vaping per day (t = -2.18, p < 0.05) and the use of menthol flavors (x2 = 4.57, p < 0.05). Tank use is associated with a higher level of primary dependence motives (b = 0.1998, p < 0.05) and a greater odds of using combustible tobacco (b = 0.4772, p < 0.05). Although disposable use is not associated with the likelihood of using combustible tobacco, it is associated with higher levels of both primary (b = 0.2158, p < 0.05) and secondary (b = 0.2533, p < 0.05) dependence motives. It is not the device type, but rather the frequency of vaping, that affects respiratory symptoms (b = 0.0602, p < 0.05). The findings indicate that when young adults switch to disposables, their e-cigarette dependence and use of sweet-flavored e-liquids increase. Even after controlling for use frequency, nicotine concentration and flavors, using disposables is related to not only instrumental motives that are influenced by psychological and environmental contexts but also heavy, automatic use that can operate without environmental cues. Given the health risks associated with disposable e-cigarettes, more comprehensive tobacco product regulations that consider the impact of device types may be needed.

The more smoking the more cataract: A study on smoking, snus use and cataract in a Swedish population.

To examine the prevalence of self-reported cataract and cataract surgery, and the incidence of cataract surgery, in relation to smoking and use of the moist smokeless tobacco product snus. In 2014/2015, individuals born in 1951 (n = 18 055) in the Västra Götaland County, Sweden, were invited to participate. Of these, 9743 (54%) accepted participation and 9316 (52%) remained after exclusion criteria were applied. Participants answered a questionnaire with items about eye conditions, smoking, snus, gender, education, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, corticosteroid use, diabetes mellitus, weight and height. Prevalence ratios (PRs) for self-reported cataract and cataract surgery were calculated. The incidence of cataract surgery was assessed, and hazard ratios (HRs) were presented. Having ever smoked was associated with a higher prevalence ratio of self-reported cataract (PR 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.35) and cataract surgery (PR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.53), compared to those who had never been daily smokers. Currently, a smoker was associated with a higher HR of cataract surgery (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.04-1.74), as well as having been a former smoker (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03-1.56). Total years of smoking were associated with an increased risk for cataract surgery (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08 for 5 years of smoking). Snus use was not associated with an increased prevalence of cataract or incidence of cataract surgery, except among women who were current snus users (HR for cataract surgery 2.04, 95% CI 1.16-3.60 n = 108). Smoking is associated with a higher prevalence of cataracts, and a higher incidence of cataract surgery, indicating a dose-response relationship. However, there was no firm association between snus use and cataract.

Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students - National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2024.

Use of tobacco products in any form is unsafe, and nearly all tobacco product use begins during adolescence. CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) analyzed data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey to determine tobacco product use among U.S. middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students. In 2024, current (previous 30-day) use of any tobacco product was reported by 10.1% of high school students (representing 1.58 million students) and 5.4% of middle school students (representing 640,000 students). Among all students, e-cigarettes were the most commonly reported tobacco product currently used (5.9%), followed by nicotine pouches (1.8%), cigarettes (1.4%), cigars (1.2%), smokeless tobacco (1.2%), other oral nicotine products (1.2%), heated tobacco products (0.8%), hookahs (0.7%), and pipe tobacco (0.5%). During 2023-2024, among all students, the estimated number who reported current use of any tobacco product decreased from 2.80 to 2.25 million students; e-cigarette use decreased (from 2.13 to 1.63 million students); and hookah use decreased (from 290,000 to 190,000 students). Among high school students, current use of any tobacco product decreased from 12.6% to 10.1% of students, and e-cigarette use decreased from 10.0% to 7.8%. Among middle school students, no statistically significant changes occurred. Evidence-based strategies can help prevent initiation and promote cessation of tobacco product use among U.S. youths.

Impacts of revised smoke-free regulations under the 2020 Japan Health Promotion Act on cigarette smoking and heated tobacco product use in indoor public places and homes: findings from 2018 to 2021 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Surveys

BackgroundIn April 2020, Japan’s revised Health Promotion Act (HPA) banned cigarette smoking and heated tobacco products (HTP) use in indoor public places but exempted small establishments and permitted smoking-designated/HTP-designated rooms....

Example of tobacco and related products prevention actions for youth aged 11 to 24 years in French-speaking Belgium

Example of tobacco and related products prevention actions for youth aged 11 to 24 years in French-speaking Belgium

Medical students' tobacco consumption status and experiences with smoke-free law violations in enclosed spaces in Türkiye and Northern Cyprus

Medical students' tobacco consumption status and experiences with smoke-free law violations in enclosed spaces in Türkiye and Northern Cyprus

Why is tobacco consumption increasing in Turkey?

Why is tobacco consumption increasing in Turkey?

Effect of tobacco–radish rotation for different years on bacterial wilt and rhizosphere microbial communities

Tobacco bacterial wilt is a major limiting factor for tobacco production and development, and it is more likely to occur under perennial single cropping of tobacco. In recent years, the rotation of tobacco-radish has gradually become popular. Therefore, we studied the effects of years of tobacco–radish rotation on tobacco bacterial wilt occurrence and rhizosphere microorganisms. The results indicated that both SY and TY could significantly reduce the risk of tobacco bacterial wilt occurrence, and SY had the lowest disease index. The rotation of radish plants significantly increased the soil pH but decreased the contents of alkali-hydrolysed nitrogen and organic matter in the soil. Alkali-hydrolysed nitrogen and pH are the key factors affecting the composition of the bacterial community. Furthermore, radish rotation changed the composition of the soil microbial community, increased the diversity of the bacterial community, and significantly altered the bacterial community structure. At the genus level, the abundance of Sphingomonas species negatively correlated with Ralstonia increased significantly, while the relative abundance of Rhodanobacter species positively correlated with Ralstonia decreased significantly. Disease index, pH and available phosphorus were the main factors affecting the variation in different bacterial genera. The network analysis results showed that Ralstonia was less connected in the network than in the CK group, and the SY treatment group had a more complex bacterial network structure. Overall, 2 years of tobacco and radish rotation improved the bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere soil and alleviated the harm caused by tobacco bacterial wilt, which is highly important for the stability and health of the rhizosphere soil ecosystem.