Harm Reduction Cigarettes More than Toxic Traditional Cigarettes..

December 9, 2008 - The University of California at Riverside research team used mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) as a model for pre-implantation embryos—embryos that have not yet implanted in the wall of the uterus—and compared the toxicity on these cells of cigarette smoke emanating from traditional and harm-reduction brands. Further, they studied the effects on the mESCs of two kinds of cigarette smoke: mainstream smoke, which is smoke actively inhaled by smokers; and sidestream smoke, which is smoke that burns off the end of a cigarette.

They found that both kinds of smoke from traditional and harm-reduction cigarettes are toxic to pre-implantation embryos and can retard growth or kill embryonic cells at this stage of development. Equally surprising to them was their discovery that mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke from harm-reduction cigarettes are more potent than the corresponding smoke from traditional brands of cigarettes.

Paper: S. Lin, V. Tran, and P. Talbot, Comparison of toxicity of smoke from traditional and harm-reduction cigarettes using mouse embryonic stem cells as a novel model for preimplantation development, Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published on November 29, 2008 - ABSTRACT..

"This study for the first time sends a clear message to nonsmoking women of reproductive age who are planning to become pregnant that they must avoid exposure to sidestream smoke" stated Olga Genbacev, a senior scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Francisco.

Reference:
Harm-reduction Cigarettes Are More Toxic Than Traditional Cigarettes, UC Riverside Study Finds, Science Daily, 12/8/2008.
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Racial slur causes mistrial in Florida tobacco case.

December 8, 2008 - A Broward County, Florida judge declared a mistrial in the case of a Cooper City widow suing cigarette maker Philip Morris over the death of her chain-smoking husband after an expert witness used a racial slur.

Robert Proctor, the expert witness, triggered the mistrial when he explained that research about racism within the tobacco industry cannot be done without using the N-word. The judge felt that the context the jury heard it within was prejudicial...that the jury was hearing about racism by the tobacco industry.

Philip Morris lawyer Kenneth Reilly objected and asked Circuit Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld to declare a mistrial.

This is the first of about 8,000 tobacco cases in Florida.

Reference: Racial slur causes mistrial in Broward County tobacco case by PATRICK DANNER pdanner@MiamiHerald.com, Miami Herald, 12/4/2008.
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Ban on Tobacco advertising in Macedonia starts December 8, 2008..

December 8, 2008 - Full ban on advertising tobacco products in Macedonia has come into force today, 12/8/2008. Pursuant to the alterations to the Law on Smoking of 2006, all advertisements on tobacco products have to be removed from the bars and restaurants, retail and service shops. The ban applies also to indirect advertising of cigarettes by displaying a logo, specific lettering, signs, symbols and slogans, which were used in advertising, or raise associations on those products. The vendors are allowed to display cigarettes in the original packaging along with price tags. The fines for violation of the ban on cigarettes advertisements range from 2,000 to 4,500 euros (USD 2,589.92 to 5,827.32).


Studies show that one-third of the Macedonian population smokes a pack a day. And up to 8% of those smokers are aged 13 to 15. Only 5% of smokers plan to give up the habit. According to data collected by the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 35% of the total population in Macedonia (700,000) smoke and the number of smokers constantly rises. According to The Economist's 2008 World Rankings Book, the average Macedonian (man, woman, and child) smokes 7.1 cigarettes per day, ranking our country on the Second place in the list of the Most Smoking Countries on Earth. Only its southern neighbors, the Greeks, smoke more than the Macedonians, they are ranked first with an average of 8.4 cigarettes per day. Russia is third and all other Balkan countries seem to score very high too. (MACEDONIA SMOKES AT THE TOP, MacedoniaDaily, 11/24/2007)

As of January 1, 2006 Macedonia adopted a law restricting indoor smoking in official environments to well-separated areas. However, a recent study found a high prevalence and a high level of exposure to ETS (environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke, passive smoking, involuntary smoking) in the workplace. The authors recommended stricter adherence to smoking-free legislation or even the total ban of smoking in the workplace. (WORKPLACE ETS EXPOSURE IN MACEDONIA NOW Jordan MINOV et al. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2008;59:103-109 Paper..

The Macedonian government amended the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products and the Antismoking Law in March 2008, launching an intensified nationwide campaign against smoking. Starting in mid-2009, cigarette packs will be required to depict photos of smokers' diseased organs. Also, starting October 2008, Macedonia banned smoking in all public places, except cafes, bars and night clubs, which will follow in January 2010. The ban comes after the previous policy of setting aside separate tables for smokers in restaurants and other establishments proved ineffective at improving air quality for nonsmokers. (Anti-smoking campaign underway in Macedoniaby Zoran Nikolovski for Southeast European Times in Skopje, 4/16/2008)

Reference: Ban on Tobacco advertising in Macedonia/macedoniaonline.eu, 12/8/2008.

Euromonitor - more information on tobacco in Macedonia.

IMAGE - "There, where the Sun shines forever - there is Macedonia", says an old popular song.

Macedonia is a party (June 30, 2006) to the
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) - the global anti-tobacco treaty.




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Dummies - Citizens Against Fire Safe Cigarettes..

December 8, 2008 - As of January 1, 2009 the State of Pennsylvania will require all cigarettes sold in the state to be fire safe. The House Bill signed into law July 9, 2008 will adopt a fire safety standard for cigarettes and require that they be low-ignition strength, making them less likely to cause fires if left unattended.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoking materials, such as cigarettes, cigars or pipes, are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. Research done by the association in the mid-1980s found that fire-safe cigarettes (look for the initials "FCS" on the pack) would eliminate three out of four cigarette fire deaths. Materials, such as cigarettes, cigars or pipes, are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States.

David Jaromnak of Reading, PA has launched an organization he calls Citizens Against Fire Safe Cigarettes. David bought a pack of cigarettes that tasted stale. Then he developed a headache and felt nauseous. When he complained to a fellow about his cigarettes repeatedly going out the co-worker told him about fire-safe cigarettes. So far this fellow has drafted a petition and within 3-weeks has collected 300 signatures to get the PA law repealed.

There's not a chance the repeal of this bill has a chance. The benefits far outweigh any minor inconvenience the smoker would suffer. In fact, a fire-safe cigarette may just save David's life some day.

Just a couple days ago a 2-alarm fire in Columbia, MO at an apartment complex was ignited after a cigarette was left unattended in the attic - picture.. The State of Missouri has NOT enacted a fire-safe cigarette law so far.

Learn more: Coalition for Fire Safe Cigarettes, an arm of the National Fire Protection Association.

Reference: Some want fire-safe smokes snuffed by Nancy Eshelman , The Patriot News, 12/7/2008 and US smokers question safety of ‘fire-safe’ cigarettes, Tobacco Reporter, 12/8/2008.

Some related news briefs: Cigarettes “fire safe” in Minnesota as of December 1, 2008..; Fire - Safe Cigarettes for all 50 states - NOW.. and Switzerland could join EU requiring sale of only self-extinguishing cigarettes.. For other related news briefs do a random search..
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C-store update: Premium cigarette makers offering lots of promotions to keep customers.

December 7, 2008 - The price of cigarettes is one of the most important factors affecting tobacco consumption (World Bank 1999) as high cigarette prices can prevent people from taking up smoking and encourage those who smoke to quit. In addition, higher cigarette pricing along with continuing economic pressures on smokers does result in growth in discount brands. To counter the possibility of a smokers switching to discount brands or quitting premium cigarette makers are now offering lots of promotions.

Take a look at some examples of special offers.

Marlboro Lights have been reduced one dollar per carton. But there had been talk that Philip Morris would have a special offer where the smoker gets an extra pack of Marlboro as a Christmas gift - this has not happened.

There's even a B1G1F offer for Camel No. 9 cigarettes and a mini-brochure can be found - Outside Panel, Inside Panel provided for the buyer. More on Camel No. 9.

A study that examined cigarette purchasing patterns of current smokers found that most smokers are price sensitive and seek out measures to purchase less expensive cigarettes. (Higher cigarette prices influence cigarette purchase patterns, A Hyland, J E Bauer, Q Li, S M Abrams, C Higbee, L Peppone, K M Cummings, Tobacco Control 14:86-92, 2005. ABSTRACT..)

Previous c-store update.
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