Articles tagged with Tobacco
Researchers found that LGBT individuals living in smoke-free communities are more likely to want to quit smoking than those in non-smoke-free areas. The study, published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, also reveals a higher prevalence of smoking among the LGBT population compared to heterosexual adults.
Post-conflict zones face unique tobacco control challenges due to high usage rates and opportunistic industry activity, highlighting the need for strong governance and effective measures like taxation
AUA trauma surgeon Dr. Gary Vercruysse reports an increase in e-cigarette-related burns, highlighting the dangers of lithium-ion batteries. The study suggests that thermal runaway can cause internal damage to batteries, leading to explosions and severe burns.
A new study by British American Tobacco found that commercially available e-cigarettes did not promote the development of cancer in laboratory cells. In contrast, smoke from a reference cigarette was positive for cancer-promoting activity at very low concentrations.
Researchers found obesity resulted in 47% more life-years lost than tobacco, with diabetes causing similar loss. The study highlights the importance of treating modifiable behavioral risk factors to prevent premature death.
A gene in wild tobacco regulates the production of bergamotene, which increases pollination success and protects against herbivory. The compound is emitted at night to attract nocturnal pollinators, such as Manduca sexta moths.
South Asian countries may benefit from implementing higher tobacco taxes, which could reduce consumption by at least one-third, according to a new analysis. The study also highlights the need for strengthened non-price interventions to control smoking, including bans on advertising and smoking in public places.
A study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and San Diego State University found that children carry high levels of nicotine on their hands even when no one is actively smoking around them. This exposure is associated with various health problems, including respiratory issues and asthma attacks.
New estimates show a decline in smoking prevalence, but deaths attributable to smoking have increased by 4.7% globally, with over one in 10 deaths caused by smoking. Tobacco control programs are effective, but population growth has led to an increase in smokers worldwide.
The prevalence of daily smoking declined globally between 1990 and 2015, but the number of daily smokers continues to rise year-over-year. Robust tobacco control programs have led to progress in reducing smoking rates, but more efforts are needed to prevent new smokers and encourage quitters.
A recent study by UC chemists found that the heat of a hookah pipe can kill 80% more lung cells than traditional charcoal, making it a surprising health culprit for smokers. The study suggests that the use of electronic heating disks may be particularly hazardous to health.
UTHealth researchers found that flavored e-cigarettes and marketing are increasing e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. The study also revealed that taste plays a significant role in tobacco products and that advertising can influence e-cigarette uptake among youth.
Researchers aim to determine whether quitting e-cigarettes causes withdrawal symptoms, with a focus on nicotine levels and potential health risks. A National Cancer Institute-funded study is recruiting long-term e-cigarette users for an eight-week experiment involving nicotine withdrawal reporting and breath/urine sampling.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that over 78% of US adults supported larger health warnings on cigarette packs, even among smokers. The researchers suggest that these findings support the implementation of larger pack warnings as required by the 2009 Tobacco Control Act.
The global tobacco control treaty has increased the adoption of tobacco reduction measures around the world, leading to a 2.5% reduction in global smoking rates between 2005 and 2015. Countries that fully implemented more demand-reduction measures experienced significantly greater reductions in smoking rates.
A new predictive model developed by British American Tobacco predicts that e-cigarettes will help reduce smoking prevalence in the UK to 9.7% by 2050. The model takes into account various scenarios and factors, including consumer behavior, demographics, and health effects, and suggests a significant reduction in smoking-related deaths.
Researchers found Asian tobacco companies are shifting from domestic focus to transnational expansion through government support, manufacturing for export, and new product development. This shift is expected to lead to a further increase in tobacco-related deaths worldwide, totaling six million annually.
A study by SFU professor Kelley Lee found that Asian tobacco companies are shifting from a domestic focus to become transnational players, aiming to increase their share of the world market. The companies' business strategies include government-supported consolidation, product innovation and foreign direct investment.
Research from the University at Buffalo and the University of Michigan found that e-cigarette use is not linked to an increase in smoking among teenagers. In fact, overall smoking rates have decreased as e-cigarette use has increased.
A study published in Drugs Education Prevention and Policy found that young people perceive e-cigarettes as a substantially less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco, discouraging tobacco uptake. The majority of participants believed vaping is not increasing their likelihood of smoking.
The Lancet Psychiatry experts argue that cannabis use can be made safer through various strategies, including regulating potency, reducing tobacco use, and exploring the effects of CBD modification. The authors also highlight the need for more research on the harms posed by different levels of THC and CBD content.
A new long-term study harnesses social media data to understand the reasons people vape, shifting away from cessation to social image. The study found that misinformation drives some vapers' rationales for using e-cigarettes.
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends that physicians provide brief information and advice to prevent or treat tobacco smoking in children and youth. Research shows that raising the minimum legal age for access to tobacco can significantly reduce smoking rates among young people.
A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research reveals that comprehensive smoking bans significantly decrease overall secondhand smoke exposure across all settings. Exposure to secondhand smoke was found to drop from 72% in 2006 to 45% in 2011, even outside workplaces and hospitality areas covered by the legislation.
Researchers found that e-cigarette exposure worsened stroke outcomes and neurological deficits in mice compared to tobacco smoke. Electronic-cigarette vaping decreased glucose uptake in the brain, which fuels brain activity. Both e-Cigarettes and tobacco smoke exposure for 30 days decreased Thrombomodulin levels, an anti-coagulant.
A new study found that pregnant women who were supported to quit smoking through the 'BabyClear' programme had heavier, healthier babies. The programme, which screens all pregnant women for smoking using carbon monoxide monitoring, led to a doubling of the number of women who quit smoking during pregnancy.
A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found a significant link between elevated depressive symptoms and the initiation of e-cigarette use among college students. The research suggests that depression may lead to e-cigarette use as a means of self-medication or stress relief.
Research finds that teen vaping acts as a 'one way bridge' to future smoking among those who have never smoked before. Vaping is also associated with an increased risk of smoking among teens who have previously smoked, possibly due to desensitization to cigarette health risks.
A new study published in JAMA Cardiology has found that habitual e-cigarette users are more likely to have increased cardiac sympathetic activity and oxidative stress compared to non-users. The findings suggest that e-cigarettes may not be harmless and warrant further research into their potential adverse cardiovascular health effects.
The total economic cost of smoking was US$ 1436 billion in 2012, equivalent to 1.8% of the world's GDP, according to a new study published in Tobacco Control. Developing countries accounted for nearly 40% of this sum.
Researchers found a 39.4% increase in smoking prevalence among soldiers from 26.2% at recruitment to 36.5% at discharge. Former smokers were at greatest risk of relapsing to smoking during service, with nearly half of former smokers returning to smoking.
A new study finds that e-cigarettes are expanding tobacco product use among youth, particularly those at low risk of starting with cigarettes. The researchers analyzed survey data from over 140,000 middle and high school students and found no evidence that e-cigarettes have caused a decline in youth smoking
The James Bond series has conspicuously absent smoking-related imagery in only one film since its debut in 1962, according to a recent analysis published in Tobacco Control. Despite Bond himself no longer smoking, he is still exposed to second-hand smoke through his sexual partners and other characters.
A new study found that viewing vape pen use increases the urge to smoke in young adults, similar to watching someone smoke a cigarette. The study's results suggest that vape pens can be a potent trigger for smoking, despite their design differences from traditional cigarettes.
A study analyzing Instagram data reveals a growing trend of hookah use in social settings and nightlife establishments. The research found that promotional material on social media is driving the increase in hookah use, often paired with alcohol consumption.
The National Commission on Prevention Priorities has released updated rankings for clinical preventive services, highlighting the most effective and cost-effective options. The top three services include immunizing children, tobacco-use screening, and alcohol misuse screening, with scores of 10 out of a possible 10.
Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke even before conception appears to impair fetal brain development throughout pregnancy, damaging regions involved in learning and memory. The impact was most severe with exposures occurring in late gestation, but adverse effects also occurred when mothers were exposed prior to conception.
A new study suggests that fewer people perceive e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, dropping from 50% in 2012 to 43% in 2014. The researchers found no association between awareness of e-cigarettes and attempts at quitting among current smokers.
Research suggests e-cigarette use does not make smoking more appealing to non-smokers, but rather discourages tobacco consumption.
Research at Roswell Park and University at Buffalo found that many hookah tobacco products have inaccurate labeling regarding nicotine content. The study revealed significant variations in nicotine and pH levels among different types of tobacco, highlighting the need for standardized testing and regulation.
A new study by UNC School of Medicine found that only 49.8% of surveyed teens consider cigar warnings 'very believable', highlighting the need for improved tobacco prevention campaigns. The survey, which included 1,125 adolescents aged 13-17, suggests that graphic warnings may be more effective in engaging youth.
The Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center study estimates that tobacco control measures have saved over 22 million smoking-related lives globally. The new analysis found that increased cigarette taxes, smoke-free laws, and health warnings were key contributors to the decrease in smoking rates and related deaths.
A recent study by the University of Pennsylvania found that cigarette packaging warning labels with images of real smokers who were harmed by their habit increased quit attempts and success rates. The study, which tested pictorial warning labels, showed that these labels consistently outperformed text-only labels.
A new study found that smoking intensity and duration are crucial factors in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Researchers discovered that smokers with longer exposure to cigarettes face a higher relative risk of heart disease compared to those who smoke the same number of cigarettes over a shorter period.
A study of over 10,000 adults and teens found that most people wrongly believe that tobacco additives are the main source of harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. In reality, the chemicals produced by burning cigarettes pose a greater risk to health.
Public health advocates from around the world are using various tactics to reduce tobacco company influence, including pension fund reform and smoke-free legislation. Efforts have shown positive impacts on public health, such as a 13% decrease in all-cause mortality in Ireland.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that long-term, low-intensity smoking is associated with a higher risk of death from all causes and lung cancer. The research also showed that former smokers who quit at a younger age had progressively lower risks of death.
A mobile app developed by researchers at the University of Oklahoma uses real-time risk estimation to predict tobacco cessation lapses, achieving an 80% accuracy rate. The app combines six questions to identify lapse-risk factors and delivers tailored messages to help smokers overcome triggers.
A new study found that people aged 70 and older who continue to smoke are more than three times as likely to die as never-smokers. Quitting smoking at any age also reduces the risk of death after age 70, with former smokers less likely to die if they quit earlier.
Research found that non-menthol flavors in most tobacco products play a vital role in how users perceive and use tobacco products. Banning these flavors could reduce tobacco product use, especially among adolescents. The study also highlights the detrimental public health impact of adolescent use of flavored tobacco products.
Researchers developed a method to increase plant productivity by boosting levels of three proteins involved in photosynthesis. In field trials, modified tobacco plants showed increases of 14-20% in productivity. The study confirms that improving photosynthesis can lead to higher crop yields.
New research found an association between e-cigarette use and persistent cough, bronchitis, and congestion in teenagers. The study suggested that even non-smoking e-cigarette users may experience respiratory symptoms, highlighting the need for further study on the long-term effects of e-cigarettes.
Plant biologists have increased crop productivity by modifying genes involved in photoprotection, allowing for more efficient use of sunlight. The study shows a 14-20% increase in modified tobacco plants, which could be applied to other crops like rice.
A new study finds that quitlines are reaching more smokers from diverse racial groups. Quitline users represent only a small percentage of tobacco users in each group, but the service can help reach underserved populations.
Sixty-nine percent of local authorities in England have reduced funding for stop-smoking services due to budget cuts. These services are crucial for smokers' successful cessation, with specialists three times more likely to help them quit.
Researchers identified distinct mutational signatures associated with tobacco smoke, including Signature 4 and Signature 5. These signatures are linked to specific types of cancer, such as lung and larynx cancers, and may be driven by a cytidine deaminase enzyme or other unknown mechanisms.
Researchers found that smoking one packet of cigarettes a day accumulates an average of 150 extra mutations in every lung cell, leading to increased cancer risk. The study also identified molecular fingerprints of DNA damage in smokers' DNA, revealing the complex mechanisms behind tobacco-related cancers.
A study identifies telltale genetic fingerprints associated with smoking tobacco, demonstrating that smoking increases cancer risk by causing somatic mutations. The research found over 20 mutational signatures linked to tobacco smoking, with some signatures elevated in cancers from smokers.
A new national consumer survey found that 44% of people under 35 believe e-cigarettes are less harmful to the lungs. Researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center are conducting two clinical studies to evaluate the health effects of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Researchers found that nicotine activates neutrophils, leading to the release of inflammatory molecules and increased inflammation throughout the body. This discovery has implications for tobacco-related diseases and may suggest alternative forms of nicotine inhalation have detrimental effects.