Tobacco Industry Research Articles

Tobacco control research on the African continent: a 22-year literature review and network analysis

ObjectiveDescribe the landscape of tobacco-related topics, funders and institutional networks in Africa.Data sourcesWe searched PubMed, Embase and African Index Medicus for published articles from January 1996 to August 2018 in...

Ni doped carbon-based composites derived from waste cigarette polypropylene filter rod with electromagnetic wave absorption performance

Abstract Polypropylene is widely used in the plastics industry, especially in the tobacco industry, served as cigarette filters to reduce tar and harm. However, it’s difficult to degrade these polypropylene plastics and suitable methods for recycling and reuse is urgent. This research proposes an efficient method for the reuse of polypropylene cigarette filters by mixing waste polypropylene filters with nickel source in different proportions, followed by a facile calcination treatment to prepare nickel-modified carbon-based composite materials with excellent microwave absorption properties. Morphology and magnetic properties of as-prepared samples were analyzed via XRD, SEM, and VSM, exhibiting an increase in carbon content with raising nickel content. Nickel ion anchored on polypropylene fiber may facilitate better fixation of carbon chains during the polypropylene decomposition process. Among the as-prepared samples, CN2 exhibited superior microwave absorption performance, with an optimal absorption peak of -26.76 dB at 7.97 GHz when matched with a given thickness of 4.3 mm, and an effective absorption bandwidth of 3.64 GHz (8.04 GHz to 11.68 GHz) with a matching thickness of 3.5 mm, covering the X band. Therefore, the as-prepared microwave absorbers provides a feasible solution for the recycling and reuse of polypropylene filters, aligning with the tobacco industry requirements for green and sustainable development.

Unveiling the Tobacco Industry's Exploitative Legacy: A Call for Racial Equity through a Menthol Ban.

Unveiling the Tobacco Industry's Exploitative Legacy: A Call for Racial Equity through a Menthol Ban.

Tobacco Control Policy in India: Progress and Challenges Quantified Using the Tobacco Control Scale.

One of the most vexing challenges to public health today is the menace of tobacco. Despite the large body of evidence indicating the vast scale of health hazards, tobacco use continues to be a major cause of preventable death. This study was conducted with the objective of quantifying the progress and challenges of the tobacco control policy of India. The Tobacco Control Scale (TCS) was used, which has a maximum score of 100 and assesses nine components including, price of cigarettes, smoke-free public and work places, spending on public information campaigns, comprehensive bans on advertising and promotion, large pictorial health warning labels, treatment to help smokers stop, illicit tobacco trade, tobacco industry interference and ratification of the WHO FCTC. The components of the TCS for India were scored based on data obtained from the WHO, Report on The Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 and their amendments and the Tobacco India 2023 country profile. The total score for the tobacco control scale placed India at 65 points, scoring highest with respect to 'large pictorial health warning labels', and lower with respect to 'spending on public information campaigns', 'illicit tobacco trade' and 'price of cigarettes'. Strong tobacco control legislation and its equally robust implementation is an affirmative step in achieving the vision of the WHO-FCTC and empowering the world towards being tobacco free.

Pengaruh Likuiditas Dan Profitabilitas Terhadap Harga Saham Pada Perusahaan Rokok Yang Terdaftar Di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) Periode 2013-2022

AbstractThis research aimed to determine the extent of the influence of liquidity using the Current Ratio (CR) proxy andThis research aimed to determine the extent of the influence of liquidity using the Current Ratio (CR) proxy and profitability with the Net Profit Margin (NPM) proxy on stock price, both partially and simultaneously. The study focused on three samples of tobacco companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2012 to 2021 period. The sumpling method employed was purposive sampling and the data utilized were secondary. The data analysis method involved multiple linear regression analysis, as well as partial and simultaneous tests. The result indicated that, partiallty, the net profit margin had a positive and significant effect on stock prices, while the current ratio, on the other hand, did not have a significant impact on stock prices. Simultaneously, both the current ratio and net profit margin had a significant impact on stock prices.

Effectiveness of Smoke-Free Campus Implementation on Smoking Behavior Control

The tobacco industry is a significant obstacle in the effort to control smoking behavior, especially since they are allowed to promote their products to the public, including students. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health developed a smoke-free zone that may be implemented in universities to reduce smoking rates among adolescents. To know the effectiveness of implementing a smoke-free campus policy on smoking behavior control at Universitas Prima Indonesia by assessing aspects of student knowledge and compliance levels. This research is a descriptive quantitative study with a cross-sectional design and uses purposive sampling techniques with the criteria of active smoker students, 74 people in the medical study program of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at Universitas Prima Indonesia. Data was obtained in February-April by distributing questionnaires directly to student smokers. The results showed that smoking behavior control among students increased in 50 (67.6%) out of 74 respondents. This is supported by the relationship between the level of knowledge and students' attitudes toward smoking behavior control in the smoke-free campus area, as indicated by a p-value<0.05 (0.005<0.05 and 0.001<0.05). This study found that students’ knowledge and attitudes towards smoke-free campus areas are important aspects influencing the effectiveness of the smoke-free campus policy in controlling smoking behavior.

Health profile of adult beedi workers among unorganized sectors in Kolar city

Background: Over 35 million people are involved in tobacco industry. Beedi rolling causes serious occupational health hazards to the workers and their family who are constantly exposed to tobacco dust and hazardous chemicals, compounded by factors at the place of work. Occupational diseases due to inhalation of tobacco dust and the other is the result of long hours of continuous sitting in an improper working posture. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among adult beedi workers residing in Kolar city. The study included 384 beedi workers. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: The study comprised of 384 study subjects out of which, Among the health problems, most common were musculoskeletal problems involving 277 (72.02%) subjects, followed by respiratory problems among 159 (41.40%), eye problems among 46 (11.9%) and others 23 (5.9%). Most common chronic illness were found to be Hypertension in 43 (43.88%) followed by Asthma 26 (26.53 %), Diabetes mellitus 12 (12.24%), ischemic heart disease 7 (7.4%) and others 10 (10.20%). Lung functions were assessed by spirometry in 83 study subjects of whom 9.6% were having obstructive features, followed by 2.4% with restrictive features, 3.6% having mixed. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal problem was the most common morbidity. Which was related to the working posture of continuous forward bending of the trunk. Educational status of such workers was found to play an important role in creating awareness and in turn utilization of welfare schemes.

Smoke-free legislation impact on the hospitality sector in the Republic of Georgia

IntroductionComprehensive smoke-free (SF) policies reduce secondhand smoke exposure and improve population-level health outcomes. However, some decision-makers heed the tobacco industry’s argument that SF policies negatively impact the hospitality sector. This...

Cigarette Smoke-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition: Insights into Cellular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways.

This review delves into the molecular complexities underpinning the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by cigarette smoke (CS) in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). The complex interplay of pathways, including those related to WNT//β-catenin, TGF-β/SMAD, hypoxia, oxidative stress, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB, plays a central role in mediating this transition. While these findings significantly broaden our understanding of CS-induced EMT, the research reviewed herein leans heavily on 2D cell cultures, highlighting a research gap. Furthermore, the review identifies a stark omission of genetic and epigenetic factors in recent studies. Despite these shortcomings, the findings furnish a consolidated foundation not only for the academic community but also for the broader scientific and industrial sectors, including large tobacco companies and manufacturers of related products, both highlighting areas of current understanding and identifying areas for deeper exploration. The synthesis herein aims to propel further research, hoping to unravel the complexities of the EMT in the context of CS exposure. This review not only expands our understanding of CS-induced EMT but also reveals critical limitations in current methodologies, primarily the reliance on 2D cell cultures, which may not adequately simulate more complex biological interactions. Additionally, it highlights a significant gap in the literature concerning the genetic and epigenetic factors involved in CS-induced EMT, suggesting an urgent need for comprehensive studies that incorporate these types of experiments.

Denying the Existence of Consensus or Denying its Probative Value? A Critique of McIntyre’s Proposal Concerning Science Denial

In this article, we try to argue, against McIntyre’s proposal in How to talk to a science denier, that there is a relevant difference between various forms of science denialism. Specifically, we contend that there is a significant distinction to be made between those forms of denialism which deny the existence of an expert consensus (the model of which is the strategy of the tobacco companies in the 1950s) and those which deny the probatory value of such expert consensus (on the basis, e.g., of conspiracy theories involving scientists). While McIntyre and others advocate for the value of communicating consensus as an effective and perfectly rational strategy against those forms of denialism which deceivingly deny the existence of scientific agreement, we argue that this approach becomes question-begging against those which deny its probatory value. Accordingly, then, we object to McIntyre’s characterization that “all science denial is basically the same” and suggest a more nuanced understanding of the phenomenon.

Five years of discourse related to Indonesia tobacco control reform: a content analysis of online media coverage

BackgroundIn 2017, Indonesia initiated the amendment of its 11-year-old tobacco control regulation (PP 109/2012) to reduce smoking among youth, but the process was stalled. The proposed changes in the regulation...

Greenwashed Cigarette Ad Text and Imagery Produce Inaccurate Harm, Addictiveness, and Nicotine Content Perceptions: Results from a Randomized Online Experiment.

The tobacco industry has a long history of circumventing regulations to present their products, inaccurately, as less harmful. Greenwashing (portraying a product as natural/eco-friendly) is increasingly used by tobacco companies and may mislead consumers to believe that certain cigarettes are less harmful than others. This study assesses the effect of some common greenwashing tactics on consumer product perceptions. We conducted an online experiment with 1,504 participants ages 18-29, randomized to view a cigarette ad manipulated for presence/absence of a combination of 4 different greenwashing techniques: greenwashed ad text, greenwashed ad imagery, recycled paper ad background, and image of greenwashed cigarette pack. Participants rated perceived absolute harm, relative harm to other cigarettes, absolute addictiveness, relative addictiveness, and relative nicotine content. Participants who viewed ads containing greenwashed text were more likely to have inaccurate perceptions about absolute harm (AOR=1.72), relative harm (AOR=3.92), relative addictiveness (AOR=2.93) and nicotine content (AOR=2.08). Participants who viewed ads containing greenwashed imagery were more likely to have inaccurate perceptions of relative harm (AOR=1.55), absolute addictiveness (AOR=1.72), relative addictiveness (AOR=1.60) and nicotine content (AOR=1.48). Forty-two percent of those who saw an ad with all greenwashed features believed the product was less harmful than other cigarettes vs. 2% of those who saw an ad without greenwashed features. We found greenwashed text and imagery produced inaccurate risk perceptions. More active U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement against such greenwashing and new FDA rulemaking to prohibit unnecessary imagery in tobacco advertising and establish plain packaging requirements would help protect consumers and public health. These findings provide evidence that greenwashing tactics used by the tobacco industry increase inaccurate product risk perceptions. These tactics could be a way for the industry to make implicit modified risk claims, despite applicable U.S. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act prohibitions. Findings from this study support the need for prohibitions on these tactics, and the potential for such prohibitions to help protect public health.

Quality characterization of tobacco flavor and tobacco leaf position identification based on homemade electronic nose

A set of nine unique tobacco extract samples was analyzed using a self-developed electronic nose (E-nose) system, a commercial E-nose, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The evaluation employed principal component analysis, statistical quality control, and soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA). These multifaceted statistical methods scrutinized the collected data. Subsequently, a quality control model was devised to assess the stability of the sample quality. The results showed that the custom E-nose system could successfully distinguish between tobacco extracts with similar odors. After further training and the development of a quality control model for accepted tobacco extracts, it was possible to identify samples with normal and abnormal quality. To further validate our E-nose and extend its use within the tobacco industry, we collected and accurately classified the flavors of different tobacco leaf positions, with a remarkable accuracy rate of 0.9744. This finding facilitates the practical application of our E-nose system for the efficient identification of tobacco leaf positions.

Research on Financial Risk Evaluation of Tobacco Companies Based on Entropy Weight TOPSIS

Domestic economic development has switched from high-speed growth to a new stage of high-quality development, which makes domestic enterprises have to study the connotation of high-quality development. Financial risk assessment is one of the important basis for high-quality development, which promotes the relationship between balanced development and risk. This paper takes tobacco enterprises as the research object, through collecting the existing financial risk evaluation content of tobacco enterprises, and building the financial risk evaluation system, using entropy weight TOPSIS method, calculates the advantages and disadvantages of the financial risk work of each company under the same standard system, promotes benchmarking learning between different tobacco companies, improves the level of financial risk control, and promotes the high-quality development of tobacco enterprises.

Tobacco industry pricing strategies during recent tax adjustments in Mexico: evidence from sales data

IntroductionPrevious studies have identified pricing strategies that the tobacco industry employs to try to minimise the impact of tobacco taxation, but these studies are mostly about high-income countries. This research...

Tobacco Industry Engagement in the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee E-cigarettes Inquiry

Background: A now extensive literature has documented political strategies of healthharming industries (HHIs), but little is known about their engagement with Parliamentary select committees. Recent investments by trans-national tobacco corporations (TTCs) in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has raised concerns that industry actors may be using these to re-engage policymakers in ways precluded by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3. Methods: This article examines tobacco industry engagement with the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (STC) inquiry into electronic cigarettes. It draws on a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with committee members and support staff (n=4) triangulated against written and oral evidence submissions. Results: TTCs featured prominently in the STC inquiry via written and oral submissions. Opportunities existed for industry engagement, and potential influence, at each stage of the process. There was an absence of oral testimony from those sceptical about the potential health benefits of ENDS. The governance mechanisms in place for select committees appear inadequate for protecting committee work from industry influence. As it relates to TTCs, this has implications for the UK’s commitments under FCTC Article 5.3, yet understanding of the FCTC and the requirements of Article 5.3 compliance within the committee were limited. Conclusion: The governance of select committees requires urgent reform in order to balance norms of openness and participation with the need to protect their work from power of economic actors with conflicts of interest. This is particularly the case in relation to TTCs and adherence to FCTC Article 5.3. These findings are of relevance to other select committees whose work affects the interests of HHIs. Further research is needed on other committees and sectors.

МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ПОДХОД К АНАЛИЗУ МНОГОАСПЕКТНОСТИ ВЛИЯНИЯ СТРЕССОВЫХ СИТУАЦИЙ НА УРОВЕНЬ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ СУБЪЕКТОВ ТАБАЧНОЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ

The presented scientific article reveals the role of studying the comprehensive fea-tures of ensuring the economic security of business structures, taking into ac-count modern stressful situations. The examples of the impact of international processes on the economic security of companies are presented. Groups of risks have been identified for tobacco industry enterprises (legislative, social, econom-ic, technological and environmental), which can lead to stressful events that lead to an imbalance in their economic security system. The author's interpretation of the term "stressful event in business" is presented and the author's approach to the formation of a register of stressful situations in the system of economic securi-ty of tobacco industry enterprises is revealed. Special attention is paid to the main stages of the author's method of analyzing the multidimensional impact of stressful situations on the level of economic safety of a tobacco industry enter-prise, based on a point-based assessment of the desired parameters. The ad-vantage of the proposed toolkit is the ability to demonstrate the calculated values obtained in the matrix of stressful events, which will allow them to be divided in-to appropriate groups for subsequent analysis, application of mechanisms and methods of regulatory action

Low-cost, immediate, general-purpose, and high-throughput (LIGHt) smartphone colorimetric screening assay for water-soluble protein

An efficient and rapid method for the detection of total soluble protein in tobacco leaves, utilizing a smartphone-based colorimetric approach has been developed. The proposed low-cost, immediate, general-purpose, and high-throughput (LIGHt) smartphone colorimetric screening assay integrates commercially available microplates, enabling on-site, high-throughput screening of tobacco leaf quality. The study involves preparing protein standard solutions and constructing standard curves using both spectrophotometric and smartphone-based methods. The LIGHt smartphone colorimetry yielded an average relative standard deviation of 10.6 %, a limit of detection of 2 μg/mL, and an average recovery of 93 %. The results demonstrated a comparable performance between intensities from the blue channel and the absorbance values in reflecting protein concentrations, validating the feasibility of utilizing smartphone colorimetry for protein concentration determination. Our approach demonstrates the potential for practical implementation in the field, providing a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for rapid quality assessment in the tobacco industry. The LIGHt smartphone colorimetry enhances quality control practices in the tobacco sector and offers a promising tool for on-site production quality testing in various industries, such as fruits and vegetables.

Evaluating the Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Heated Tobacco Products on Hard Dental Tissues: A Comparative Histological and Colorimetric Analysis.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of cigarette smoking (CS) and heated tobacco (HT) on the alteration of color and ultrastructural characteristics of human enamel and cementum. According to tobacco companies, a less harmful substitute for CS is HT products. Nevertheless, comprehensive research on the effects of HT on tooth structures has been lacking. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of CS and HT on the alteration of color and ultrastructural characteristics of human enamel and cementum. Thirty intact and noncarious human maxillary premolars extracted for orthodontic treatment purposes, previously disinfected, were used in the study. The specimens were randomly separated into six groups (n = 10), as follows: Group 1: enamel without smoking exposure; Group 2: enamel exposed to CS; Group 3: enamel exposed to HT; Group 4: cementum without smoking exposure; Group 5: cementum exposed to CS; and Group 6: cementum exposed to HT. The measurement of color change was conducted using a spectrophotometer. The surface alterations and mineral composition of enamel and cementum were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. ANOVA test followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to determine significant differences between groups. Results showed that CS had a more pronounced effect on enamel and cementum color changes than HT. The impact of CS and HT on color changes was more evident in cementum than in enamel. Surface morphology of enamel and cementum showed alterations in histology following exposure to both smoking types. Moreover, the mineral content experienced a significant reduction after using CS and HT. The reduction in calcium content after CS and HT exposure was similar. However, HT led to a significant decrease in the phosphorus content of enamel when compared with CS. At the same time, CS exposure in cementum resulted in a more significant reduction in Ca/P ratio than HT. Although HT may appear to present a lower danger to hard dental tissues than CS, it is not entirely harmless. CS results in more color changes on the enamel and cementum of teeth. Both smoking methods affected the mineral content of teeth, with CS having a significant effect on the roots, while HT significantly affected the crowns' mineral composition.

The Effect of Sustainable Alternative Cigarette to the Valuation of PT. Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna, Tbk. (HMSP.JK)

This research investigates the impact of sustainable alternative cigarettes on the valuation of PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna Tbk (HMSP.JK), a leading tobacco company in Indonesia and a subsidiary of Philip Morris International (PMI), which is actively pursuing a smoke-free future. With growing global awareness of the health risks associated with traditional cigarettes, there has been a shift towards alternative tobacco products perceived as less harmful. This study evaluates how the introduction and adoption of these alternative products influence the company's market valuation. Using a comprehensive valuation model that integrates financial analysis, industry trends, and potential growth of the alternative cigarette market, the research applies discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis to the projected 10Y HMSP’s FCFF. The evaluation was conducted under three scenarios based on the rate of acceptance of Heated Tobacco Sales (HTU) in the market both domestic and international. In the scenario analysis, the projected stock price varies significantly depending on the rate of HTU sales. Under the most optimistic scenario (Scenario 3/10% HTU revenue mix), the stock price shows substantial upside potential up to 92% with intrinsic value of Rp. 1,297. The market price of HMSP’s share is at Rp. 675 as of August 1, 2024, which indicated that current share price is undervalued. Therefore, it is recommended for investor to buy HMSP stock at current price. Based on these insights, the Author recommends that Sampoerna’s management focus on accelerating the adoption of alternative products, navigating regulatory challenges proactively, and enhancing consumer education to solidify its market position in this evolving landscape.