PAPER: women who smoke cigarettes during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase their offspring's risk for congenital heart defects (CHDs)..

March 1, 2011 - The study investigated associations between maternal cigarette smoking during the first trimester and the risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) among the infants.

PAPER: Maternal Smoking and Congenital Heart Defects in the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study, Clinton J. Alverson, MS, Matthew J. Strickland, PhD, Suzanne M. Gilboa, PhD, Adolfo Correa, MD, PhD, Pediatrics - published online February 28, 2011, ABSTRACT..

Women who smoke cigarettes during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase their offspring's risk for congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Clinton J. Alverson, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues analyzed 2,525 case and 3,435 control infants from a study of CHDs to investigate associations between cigarette smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of infant CHDs. The researchers found a significant positive association between first-trimester cigarette smoking and risk for secundum-type atrial septal defects, right ventricular outflow tract defects, pulmonary valve stenosis, truncus arteriosus, and levo-transposition of the great arteries (odds ratios, 1.36, 1.32, 1.35, 1.90, and 1.79, respectively). In addition, they observed a suggestive association for atrioventricular septal defects in infants without Down syndrome (odds ratio, 1.50).

"These findings add to the existing body of evidence that implicates first-trimester maternal cigarette smoking as a modest risk factor for select CHD phenotypes," the authors write.

Reference: Cigarette Smoking Associated With Congenital Heart Defects, doctorslounge.com, 2/28/2011.

Some pregnancy related news briefs:
PAPER: heavy smoking early in pregnancy, smokers more than twice as likely as non-smokers to suffer a miscarriage in the first trimester..;
Massachusetts South Coast - smoking among pregnant women far surpasses state average..;
;
NICE wants all pregnant women in the UK to be tested for the presence of smoking..;
Smoking during pregnancy - potentially negative effect on reproductive health in the next generation..;
Maternal Smoking - important risk factor in the development of psychotic experiences in their children..;
England - program to pay pregnant women not to smoke seems hopeful..;
Pregnant women who quit smoking before the 15th week reduce risk of premature birth and small babies..;
Pregnant women exposed to passive smoke greater chance of child will have respiratory distress..;
Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy Alters Maternal and Fetal Thyroid Function... Read more...

More on R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co./Lorillard Tobacco Co. sued to block FDA TPSAC menthol recommendations..

March 1, 2011 -

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co./Lorillard Tobacco Co. sued to block FDA TPSAC menthol recommendations..

From the FDA Law Blog..

In a federal lawsuit filed on Friday, February 25, 2011 in the District of Columbia, Lorillard, Inc., Lorillard Tobacco Company, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company sued the defendants: FDA, DHHS, Kathleen Sebelius, Margaret Hamburg, and Lawrence Deyton for declaratory and injunctive relief to bring the membership of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (“TPSAC”) and the membership of the Constituents Subcommittee of the TPSAC into compliance with the law, and to prevent the defendants from taking any action based on any report or advice provided by the TPSAC or the Constituents Subcommittee.

The plaintiffs (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co./Lorillard Tobacco Co.) ask that the court prohibit the defendants from receiving or relying on any information or report issued by the TPSAC or the Constituents Subcommittee, enjoin the defendants from transmitting plaintiffs’ trade secret information to either committee, and require the participation of the non-voting members in matters that do not involve access to confidential information.

Reference: Lawsuit Alleges Bias and Conflicts of Interest in FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee by David B. Clissold, FDA Law Blog, 2/28/2011. Read more...

Norway - smoking plummets among young people..

Click on graphs - to enlarge..
February 28, 2011 - About 19 percent of Norwegians smoke daily (less than one in five smoke daily), down from 21 percent two years ago, according to figures from Statistics Norway. Another 10 percent smoke more irregularly.

Meanwhile, the number of people aged 16-24 who smoke daily has declined to 12 per cent from 24 per cent six years ago, though daily snuff consumption has risen in this age-group to 17 per cent. About 25 percent of young men and eight percent of young women use snuff daily. The current proportion of smokers is the same for men and women.

For the first time since the measurements of smoking habits started in 1973, the proportion of daily smokers amongst the 16-74 years olds is less than 20 percent. The share of snuff users was 7 percent in 2010.

Over the years, the authorities have taken measures to reduce the number of smokers. Among these efforts are a prohibition of tobacco advertising, health warnings on cigarette packets and a special smoking act that prohibits smoking in public areas indoors.

The declining smoking tendency among young people in the age 16-24 years continued in 2010. Ten per cent of young men and 14 per cent of young women are daily smokers. On the other hand, occasional smoking is more common among young men. When it comes to using snuff, the number of young users is rising. One in four young men now use snuff on a daily basis, and eight per cent of the women.

For the age group 16-74 years as a whole, the level of snuff users is relatively stable. Seven per cent used snuff daily – 12 per cent among men and two for women. The proportion of occasional snuffers is unaltered at four per cent.

Reference: Smoking habits 2010 Less than one in five smoke daily, Statistics Norway, 2/18/2011.

Norway - some related news briefs:
Norway - snuff posts only growth on declining Norwegian tobacco market..;
Norway - directorate would like to raise the legal age for buying tobacco from 18 to 20..;
Norway - WHO wants govt to ban smoking in private home/gardens how about starting with cars when kids are present??;
Norway - the state of public health 2010 – new report published..;
Norway - health secretary no graphic warnings on snus boxes for now..;
Norway - Philip Morris announces lawsuit challenging tobacco product display ban..;
Norway - drops top cigarette makers from wealth fund..;
Norway - starting January 1, 2010 - tobacco no longer on display..;
Norway strict tobacco display ban by October 2009.. Read more...

Canada - Tobacco warning labels to appear on interior and exterior of package..

February 28, 2011 - Health Canada released Friday a new set of bigger and more graphic health warnings for cigarette packages that will require tobacco companies to overhaul both the inside and outside of packs.

Directly related news brief:
Canada: Government of Canada Acts to Strengthen and Enlarge Health Warnings on Cigarette and Little Cigar Packages.. - with background on the events leading up to the new graphic health warnings..

Twelve new images to cover 75 percent of the outside panel of cigarette packages were unveiled alongside eight new health messages to appear on the inside in full colour — setting Canada apart from other countries.

"Canada is the only country in the world that actually takes over the inside of the package as well as the outside," Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, said Friday. "This is really innovative."

Tobacco companies will also have to include four toxic emission messages for the side panel, along with a national toll-free quit line.

The draft regulations provide that the new warnings would be required on packages at the manufacturer and distributor levels by the end of the year and at the retail level in March 2012.

The new packaging rules will not apply to untaxed cigarettes sold on some aboriginal reserves.
Robbie Dickson, CEO of the Rainbow Tobacco Company, a Mohawk enterprise based on the Kahnawake reserve in Quebec, told a convention of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations this week that his company is responsible for 25 percent of cigarette sales in Ontario. (Mohawk cigarette maker urges Sask. bands to pass own tobacco laws by Jeremy Warren, Postmedia News, 2/17/2011)

Additional reading: COMMERCIAL TOBACCO
IN FIRST NATIONS & INUIT COMMUNITIES - March 2009..

Reference: Tobacco warning labels to appear on interior and exterior of package by Sarah Schmidt, Postmedia News, MontrealGazette.com, 2/22/2011. Read more...

Germany - kids just don't think smoking is cool anymore..

February 28, 2011 - So said the German Center for Health Education, which reported smoking among youths has gone down by about half over the last decade. Smoking is decidedly "out" among German youths, with just 13 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds in Germany starting the habit in 2010, according a study by the German Center for Health Education.

That is the lowest level since the organization started tracking youth smoking 30 years ago. The Center for Health Education also said about half as many German youths started smoking in 2010 as the same age group did in 2001, when 28 percent of youngsters smoked.

The Center for Health Education's Director, Elisabeth Pott, said the findings are part of a downward trend in smoking in Germany. "For most young people, smoking today is totally 'out'," she said. "Not smoking has become mainstream in our society, especially among youths and adolescents."

Among 12- to 17-year-olds who smoked, the Center for Health Education found the average age they picked up their first cigarette was 14. The organization's study also said 38 percent of Germans between 18 and 25 years old smoked in 2010, down from 43 percent two years earlier. Graphic of a cigarette buttBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Smoking prevention programs have yielded results

The German government's drug commissioner, Mechthild Dyckmans, said the study showed the Center for Health Education's smoking prevention programs have been working. "The further decline of smoking among youths shows long-term success in reaching children and young people with tobacco prevention measures," he said. Among those measures, the Center for Health Education listed a "smoke free" campaign that shows youngsters the benefits of not smoking and an online program that helps smokers quit.

The center conducted the study through phone interviews with 7,000 12 to 25 year olds in July and August of last year.

Reference: More German youths say no to cigarettes, Author: Shant Shahrigian (AFP, dpa, dapd), Editor: Nicole GoebelV DW-World.de, 2/25/2011.

Some Germany related news briefs:
Germany - tobacco taxes to increase in May 2011..;
Germany - tobacco tax to increase incrementally over next 5-years..;
Oktoberfest 2010 in Munich, Germany smokefree in 2011..;
Bavaria, Germany - Oktoberfest to be smokefree but not this year..;
Study - the more teens see cigarette ads, the greater the risk of taking a puff..;
Germany - Bavaria referendum on smoking in cafés and beer halls on July 4, 2010..;
Germany - losing billions as smokers find cheaper places to buy cigarettes..;
Germany - smokers smoking less but it's costing more..;
Bavarians force referendum on smoking ban next year..;
Bavaria - court rules, looser implementation of smoking ban constitutional..;
Germany - beer sales are down smoking ban maybe partial blame..;
Bavaria - state's parliament loosened regulation on smoking ban..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008..;
German sales rise in Germany amid moves to impose smoking ban.. Read more...