Friday, July 04, 2008

Are Electronic Cigarettes Better For Your Health?

Ontario's anti-smoking law is one of the toughest in the country. So is Toronto's own bylaw. Both ban smoking in offices and enclosed spaces. And both force puffers to head outside for a butt - even in the dead of a -30C winter or the heat of a 40-plus humidex. Smokers have been forced to grin and bear it all these years, while crying they've been discriminated against. And many have been looking for loopholes to get around the all encompassing bans. And now some think they've found it, thanks to an electronic cigarette.
They're made by a company called Crown Seven. The user puts a nicotine capsule inside, then puffs on one end. The other end lights up just like cigarettes even though this product does not burn.
The gizmo delivers a hit of nicotine but lets out a puff of odourless water vapour instead of a plume of smoke. It only contains nicotine and not the hundreds of other chemicals that can be in a standard smoke. It comes with a rechargeable battery that heats up the liquid nicotine and turns it into a gas. And since it's not technically cigarettes and doesn't threaten anyone else's airway, it may not fall under the strict laws regarding indoor puffing. But how does it taste?
"It's got a bit of a bite, sort of tobacco-like bite but it doesn't really taste like tobacco," reports volunteer Leo Jablonski. They're for sale all over the Internet at a range of strengths and prices, and advocates insist they have lots of benefits. There's no chance of fire since you don't light them, they don't stain your teeth, there's no second-hand smoke and they may make quitting easier. But vendors also claim they don't harm your health because the tar and smoke that comes with normal coffin nails isn't present. "I think people need to be cautious," warns Dr Roberta Ferrence, director of the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit. "It's an unknown."
"The concern is that the product will probably be promoted as something that's safer than smoking," she adds. Dr Ferrence doesn't think they're safe at all. In an interview with CityNews Medical Specialist Dr Karl Kabasele, she pointed out the many disadvantages of this "smokeless" cigarette:
We don't know for certain that they are less harmful than regular cigarettes. They're not regulated, and because they're available in different strengths, it's difficult to gauge the danger. It keeps smoking visible, and therefore increases its social acceptance, at a time when the Ontario government is working to make smoking "uncool."
Kids will have easier access to the gadget, and it may act as a gateway to the real thing. It's not a tool to help you quit smoking; it's just a way to get around the smoking ban laws. There's no evidence that it can help with smoking cessation.
Finally, inhaling nicotine is the most addictive of all delivery modes. However, the company never claimed it could be used to help you quit smoking. "It's intended just for smoking alternative...for smokers to get their nicotine in nonsmoking environments," agrees Ron MacDonald, President and CEO of Crown Seven.
Posted by cigarea at 16:45:43 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, June 30, 2008

Tobacco Control Enforcement Co-ordinator

- Manages on a day to day basis allocated human, material, financial and other resources in pursuance of the TSEM Tobacco Control Strategy.
- Administers the DoH grant, through taking responsibility for the budget, ensuring it is spent in accordance with plans outlined in the proposal.
- Reports to funding body and TSEM HoS Group.
- Prepares and maintains the TSEM Tobacco Control Strategy within agreed timescales and in accordance with the priorities agreed by the TSEM Heads of Service.
- Monitors the effectiveness of TSEM activities against the Control Strategy and initiates appropriate corrective action.
- Contributes to the preparation of the national and TSEM Strategic Threat Assessments.
- Informs and advises the TSEM Heads of Service and TSEM specialist groups on developments in tobacco control related legislation, policy and strategy.
- Attends the TSEM Regional Tactical Co-ordination Group and other tobacco enforcement related meetings and fora.
- Works with and responds to media requests.
- Prepares and submits applications to attract further resources related to regulation of age restricted products

Posted by cigarea at 12:52:21 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

India tobacco exports may rise to record $600 mln

MUMBAI, - India is likely to export a record $600 million of tobacco in 2008/09, as a shortfall in global output boosted demand and pushed up prices to new highs, a senior official said.

"Prices have risen about 70 percent from last year and importers are buying at these levels also. At this price, exports will touch $ 600 million (in 2008/09)," J Suresh Babu, chairman of the Tobacco Board, told Reuters on Thursday.

In the year ending March 2008, tobacco exports rose 32 percent to $503 million, he said.

The average price of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV), a premier grade used for cigarette-making, has risen more than 78 percent to 84.67 rupees per kg, from 47.47 rupees a year ago.

A shortfall in other main producing countries like Brazil has pushed up prices, which will sustain at these levels until global production rises, Babu said.

India is the second biggest producer of tobacco after China and the fourth-biggest exporter of unmanufactured tobacco.

However, rising exports and higher prices are hurting Indian cigarette makers like Kolkata based ITC Ltd, the biggest cigarette maker in the country, and Godfrey Phillips India Ltd.

Posted by cigarea at 12:50:26 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday, June 20, 2008

Cigarettes might be disgusting, but these days they are a great way to bond with other people

This week in the New York Times there was an article by the author Tony Horwitz, an Obama supporter and fellow Nicorette addict, urging him to start smoking again in order to win the support of the blue-collar workers who flocked to Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries, and who may well determine whether he makes it to the White House in November. Horwitz made the point that Americans on low incomes smoke at twice the rate of the better off, and that most of these smokers are in the states where Obama polled worst in the primaries. To them he might seem "aloof, overgroomed and fussy about eating the right foods and getting enough exercise"; and taking up smoking again "would go a long way towards dispelling his effete image".

Horwitz also pointed out that "indulging in a vice stigmatised by most Americans is an easy way to bond with people with whom you otherwise have nothing in common", and from my own experience I have found this to be the case. I had planned, for the umpteenth time, to give up smoking during my stay in the US this month, but once again I failed. Perversely, I found the opprobrium it attracts a stimulus to go on doing it. I wanted to be on the side of the oppressed, and oppression has a way of bringing its victims together.

At a splendid country wedding in Virginia, where I knew only a handful of the hundreds of guests, I met some really nice and interesting people only because we shared the same disgusting habit. Nowadays smokers gravitate instinctively to each other for they feel at ease in each other's company.

Even on the streets of New York, when people stop you to bum a cigarette or a light, they do so in a modest and courteous manner, knowing that most of the world regards them as pariahs.

For Obama and his supporters, it must be depressing to learn that the Clintons are convinced he cannot win in November. It is not necessarily that they do not want him to. Hillary pledged unequivocal support for him in her concession speech, even echoing his campaign slogan, "Yes, we can". But it's clear that what she really thinks is, "No, he can't".

The journalist John Heilemann, who knows her well, writes in this week's New York magazine: "It would be hard to overstate the private pessimism that Hillary and Bill Clinton feel about Obama's general-election prospects."

Hillary, he says, would feel obliged to accept the vice-presidential slot if it were offered her, for fear of being blamed for Obama's defeat if she refused, "even though in her view his downfall is foreordained and has nothing to do with her". She just doesn't believe that her female and white working-class supporters will cross to him in sufficient numbers to secure his election as president.

This would seem to be reason enough for Obama not to choose her as his running mate, for how could he want a comrade in arms who thinks he is doomed to lose? Another good reason would be the problem of her husband; for Bill, having proved a liability in Hillary's campaign, would probably be even more of one in Obama's.

Posted by cigarea at 16:53:46 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

French wants Poland's state tobacco firm

French biotechnological company Biosyntec wants to invest in Zakłady Tytoniowe Lublin (ZTL), the last state-owned company on the tobacco market in the EU. "The first meeting concerning terms for the sale of company shares has been held," announced Agnieszka Żukowska of the Treasury Ministry, which plans to finish the privatization procedure in Q2 2008.

ZTL has been losing its share of the cigarette market over the past few years, however, it is the leading domestic producer of tobacco.

Biosyntec's capital should open ZTL to the global market. The firm has plans to produce a new type of cigarette filter that would reduce the risk of cancer cells caused by cigarette smoke by 80%.

Experts from the tobacco industry unofficially said that if the performance of the filters is confirmed, no tobacco company will be able to ignore them.

The cigarette market in Poland is worth almost zł.20 billion annually.

Posted by cigarea at 16:48:42 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Smoking cessation groups think cigarette tax will lead smokers to quit

BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. -- With the rising cost of a pack of cigarettes, some groups in the Southern Tier say it's just time to quit.

Groups like Tobacco Free Broome-Tioga, Reality Check and the TEAM-ACT Cessation Center believe the new tax is an incentive for people to quit smoking. The groups predict that the tax increase will prevent more than 243,000 from smoking and lead more than 140,000 smokers to quit.

 

"People need deterrents. They need the information about the health risks of smoking and they need a deterrent that's going to say you know what, it's really not worth it to smoke anymore. Because I don't have anything. At the end of a $180 habit a month, I have nothing to show for it," said Christie Finch, Chair of the Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga Coalition.

According to the groups, national statistics show every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes will reduce overall cigarette smoking by four percent.

 

Posted by cigarea at 15:28:50 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Stephens City Town Council approves tax on cigarettes

STEPHENS CITY — A pack of smokes will cost 25 cents more in town when a new tax adopted Tuesday takes effect.

The Town Council voted 6-1 at its regular meeting to approved an ordinance creating a 25-cent excise tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes. Mayor Ray Ewing, Vice Mayor Joy Shull and councilmen Ronald Bowers, John Hollis, Lindel Fravel Jr. and Micheal Grim voted to approve the ordinance on the final reading. Councilman John Harter gave the dissenting vote.

"There were enough people in this town that didn't like the idea, and somebody had to vote against it," Harter said, explaining his vote.

Bowers disagreed.

"I think it's a fair tax because you're putting it on an elected product," Bowers said.

Currently, four businesses within town limits sell cigarettes and would have to charge the tax. Sellers must display a cigarette stamp provided by the town. Taxes will be collected by the town treasurer. The tax per individual cigarette will be 1.25 cents, but the total revenue should be around $25,000, according to Town Manager Mike Kehoe.

In other business, the council:

* Adopted a resolution to address "Virginia's transportation funding crisis," by which the town supports the efforts of the governor and the General Assembly "to act swiftly and decisively to approve legislation that will address the transportation funding crisis at the statewide, regional and local levels."

The resolution also states that such legislation should include new tax and fee revenue, including tolls on new highways, to ensure safe roads, ease congestion, promote economic development and provide consumer choices.

* Held a public hearing on the proposed 2008-2009 budget. No one spoke during the hearing. The total budget is proposed at $1.45 million, compared to $1.66 million for the current fiscal year. The council scheduled a June 12 special meeting at which they plan to vote on the budget.

Also, the council approved a motion extending the deadline to pay real estate and personal property taxes to June 30. Bills were to be due Thursday.

* Voted unanimously to award a contract to American Disposal Inc. for refuse collection. The contract is for one year at $101,192. Evergreen Waste Inc. currently provides the service for nearly $90,000 but submitted a bid of $125,881 for the next year, the second-highest of three bids.

* Voted unanimously to adopt a resolution requesting that the Virginia Department of Transportation reduce the speed limit on U.S. 11 (Valley Pike), 0.95 miles south of the previous town limits, from 55 mph to 45 mph.

Posted by cigarea at 15:25:19 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, May 26, 2008

Electronic Cigarettes Give Smokers Buzz Without Second-Hand Smoke

Minneapolis, -- For some smokers, having a drink at a bar just isn't the same if they can't light up. But in Minneapolis that could change, as more people start using "e-cigarettes."
The new Davidoff cigarettes are perfectly legal in a bar. The smokers simply draws on the end and it produces a vapor. The vapor if like smoke and gives the user nicotine, but doesn't give off second-hand smoke. Nothing is ignited. Nothing burns and there are none of the 4000 harmful chemicals that are in secondhand smoke.
The electronic cigar is disposable and lasts 30 to 40 days and costs about $50. The cigarettesystem is $159 and the nicotine is sold in replaceable cartridges that run about $5 per unit. Each cartridge is equivalent to nearly two packs of regular cigarettes.
The inventors say that a non-smoker can sit next to someone smoking it and not be too offended. They say it doesn't smell and doesn't cloud the air.
As for whether or not its good for you, the company says they don't make any claims with respect to the health to the user.
Posted by cigarea at 11:25:20 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Gamucci Micro Electronic Cigarette Pretends to be The Real Thing

I never thought there'd come a time when lighting up a cigarettes would mean looking for an outlet rather than a lighter. Electronic cigarettes aren't anything new though--remember Crown7's battery-operated cigarettes? The Gamucci Micro Electronic Cigarette basically works the way as the Crown7 cigarettes do. To provide an even closer semblance to reality, Gamucci looks the same as ordinary cigarettes--the tip lights up too. Inside the stick is a chamber housing the cartridge which contains liquid, part of which is nicotine. When you take a drag at the e-cigarette, an atomizing chamber vaporizes the liquid to give users that "nicotine hit."
Gamucci claims that nicotine is the only ingredient, so you get to enjoy smoking sans the carcinogens. You can also supposedly use it in non-smoking areas as it does not have fire and only produces vapor, not smoke and hence, is not a cigarette. The electronic cigarettes is powered with a 3.7 volt battery, a single charge of which could last the whole day. The cartridges loaded into the electronic cigarettes could be "low" with only 6mg of nicotine, "medium" with 11mg, or "high" with 16mg. You can pick a package of the Gamucci Micro Electronic Cigarette up in I Want One of Those for $89.91 which includes two sticks, 5 "high" cartridges, and the charger, of course. You can also pick up a pack of 5 cartridges from the Gamucci web site for $14. A single cartridge, by the way, is equivalent to 20 normal cigarettes. Oh, and if you're interested in puffing flavored smoke, Gamucci is also planning to release electronic cigarettes in Apple, Chocolate, Cherry, Mint, and Coffee variations.
Posted by cigarea at 12:49:35 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday, May 16, 2008

Why not ban menthol?

Legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration power to regulate tobacco products includes the ability to ban flavored Camel cigarettes , such as those infused with strawberry, cloves or cinnamon. But it stops short of listing the flavoring that actually entices the most smokers: menthol. Mentholated brands, it seems, are simply too important to the industry's bottom line. But let's be clear: It's not the brands that are important, it's the buyers -- African Americans.
Almost 75% of African American smokers use menthol brands, compared with one-quarter of white smokers, and removing menthol might lead to a significant drop in smoking. That could lead to a big drop in profits, as menthol Camel cigarettessales account for more than a quarter of the $70-billion U.S. market.
But Congress is supposed to be acting in the public's interest, not the tobacco industry's, and one of the alleged goals of the legislation is to reduce smoking's appeal to young people. New smokers often find the taste of tobacco unpleasant or harsh, and tobacco companies have helped ease them into the habit with flavored cigarettes.
The industry maintains that menthol carries no proven health risk. But that's a red herring. No one is accusing strawberry or pineapple flavoring of causing cancer either, but removing them will make smoking less palatable to some. For whatever reason, menthol makes cigarettes more palatable for blacks. And that is a real risk. As a former official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the New York Times: "Menthol induces smoking in the African American community and subsequently serves as a direct link to African American death and disease."
What we're asking for is honesty: The next time the anti-smoking lobby, Philip Morris and certain legislators say this legislation is needed to protect our children, they should have the decency to put the word "our" in quotations.
Posted by cigarea at 12:32:54 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |