Seventh: Light Cigarettes?

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The Truth About "Light" Cigarettes: Questions and Answers

Many smokers choose “low-tar,” “mild,” “light,” or “ultra-light” cigarettes because they think that these cigarettes may be less harmful to their health than “regular” or “full-flavor” cigarettes. Although smoke from light cigarettes may feel smoother and lighter on the throat and chest, light cigarettes are not healthier than regular cigarettes. The truth is that light cigarettes do not reduce the health risks of smoking. The only way to reduce a smoker’s risk, and the risk to others, is to stop smoking completely."

Cigarette companies trick the smokers into believeing "light" cigarettes are healthier than normal cigarettes and that these cigarettes satisfy the craving smokers have for nicotine.

"What about the lower tar and nicotine numbers on light and ultra-light cigarette packs and in ads for these products?

-These numbers come from smoking machines, which “smoke” every brand of cigarettes exactly the same way.

-These numbers do not really tell how much tar and nicotine a particular smoker may get because people do not smoke cigarettes the same way the machines do. And no two people smoke the same way.


How do light cigarettes trick the smoking machines?

-Tobacco companies designed light cigarettes with tiny pinholes on the filters. These “filter vents” dilute cigarette smoke with air when light cigarettes are “puffed” on by smoking machines, causing the machines to measure artificially low tar and nicotine levels.

-Many smokers do not know that their cigarette filters have vent holes. The filter vents are uncovered when cigarettes are smoked on smoking machines. However, filter vents are placed just millimeters from where smokers put their lips or fingers when smoking. As a result, many smokers block the vents—which actually turns the light cigarette into a regular cigarette.

-Some cigarette makers increased the length of the paper wrap covering the outside of the cigarette filter, which decreases the number of puffs that occur during the machine test. Although tobacco under the wrap is still available to the smoker, this tobacco is not burned during the machine test. The result is that the machine measures less tar and nicotine levels than is available to the smoker.

-Because smokers, unlike machines, crave nicotine, they may inhale more deeply; take larger, more rapid, or more frequent puffs; or smoke a few extra cigarettes each day to get enough nicotine to satisfy their craving. This is called “compensating,” and it means that smokers end up inhaling more tar, nicotine, and other harmful chemicals than the machine-based numbers suggest."

Some smokers don't realize that there are filter vents on their cigarettes, so they cover the filter up with their lips and turn the "light" cigarette into a normal one.


"What is the scientific evidence about the health effects of light cigarettes?

-The Federal Government’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) has concluded that light cigarettes provide no benefit to smokers’ health.


-According to the NCI monograph Risks Associated with Smoking Cigarettes with Low Machine-Measured Yields of Tar and Nicotine, people who switch to light cigarettes from regular cigarettes are likely to inhale the same amount of hazardous chemicals, and they remain at high risk for developing smoking-related cancers and other diseases.


-Researchers also found that the strategies used by the tobacco industry to advertise and promote light cigarettes are intended to reassure smokers, to discourage them from quitting, and to lead consumers to perceive filtered and light cigarettes as safer alternatives to regular cigarettes.


-There is also no evidence that switching to light or ultra-light cigarettes actually helps smokers quit. "

These sites confirm the fact that light cigarettes are of no help when trying to quit or lower health risks.

"Have the tobacco companies conducted research on the amount of tar and nicotine people actually inhale while smoking light cigarettes?

The tobacco industry’s own documents show that companies are aware that smokers of light cigarettes compensate by taking bigger puffs.

Industry documents also show that the companies are aware of the difference between machine-measured yields of tar and nicotine and what the smoker actually inhales. "


Why do smokers believe there is such a cigarette that helps you quit?

National Cancer Institute. 27 Jan 2007 .

Eighth: Secondhand Smoke

New Surgeon General’s Report Focuses on the Effects of Secondhand Smoke

"U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona today issued a comprehensive scientific report which concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm. The report says the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.


“The report is a crucial warning sign to nonsmokers and smokers alike,” HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt said. "Smoking can sicken and kill, and even people who do not smoke can be harmed by smoke from those who do.”

Secondhand smoke exposure can cause heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children, the report finds.

“The health effects of secondhand smoke exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought,” said Surgeon General Carmona, vice admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service. “The scientific evidence is now indisputable: secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that can lead to disease and premature death in children and nonsmoking adults.” Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals, and is itself a known human carcinogen. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke inhale many of the same toxins as smokers. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and increases risk for heart disease and lung cancer, the report says. In addition, the report notes that because the bodies of infants and children are still developing, they are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke.

“The good news is that, unlike some public health hazards, secondhand smoke exposure is easily prevented,” Surgeon General Carmona said. “Smoke-free indoor environments are proven, simple approaches that prevent exposure and harm.” The report finds that even the most sophisticated ventilation systems cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure and that only smoke-free environments afford full protection.

Surgeon General Carmona noted that levels of cotinine -- a biological marker for secondhand smoke exposure -- measured in nonsmokers have fallen by 70 percent since the late 1980s, and the proportion of nonsmokers with detectable cotinine levels has been halved from 88 percent in 1988-91 to 43 percent in 2001-02.

“Our progress over the past 20 years in clearing the air of tobacco smoke is a major public health success story,” Surgeon General Carmona said. “We have averted many thousands of cases of disease and early death and saved millions of dollars in health care costs.” He emphasized, however, that sustained efforts are required to protect the more than 126 million Americans who continue to be regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home, at work, and in enclosed public spaces.

To help communicate the report findings as widely as possible, the Surgeon General unveiled an easy-to-read guide with practical information on the dangers of secondhand smoke and steps people can take to protect themselves."

This quote from "New Surgeon General’s Report Focuses on the Effects of Secondhand Smoke" shows me that the government is concerned with the dangers of smoke.

New Surgeon General’s Report Focuses on the Effects of Secondhand Smoke.. 5 Mar 2007

Fifth: "Statewide Smoking Ban Likely"

"A statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants is likely to win approval from the Maryland General Assembly this year, legislative leaders say, as the number of counties that have adopted local versions of the proposad law comtinues to grow.

It's something that's destined to pass," House Speaker Michael Busche said.

Senate Presidnet Thomas Mike Miller also said ther is " a good chance is't going to pass this year." He added, It's certainly gor a lot of support in my own fanily, from my wife and my children."

" A Stateside van has failed for four consecutive sessions, and it still faces fierce opposition, notably from the Restaurant Association os Maryland and other industry groups. But the idea is gaining momentym as more local jurisdictions enact bans of their own."
"The ban's proponents say they have veen embolened by the U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona's report last year on the dangers of secondhand smoke. Carmona said the evidence is now "indisputible: that is a public health hazard. Also last year, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health releaseda study estimationg the costs of secondhand smoke in Maryand at nearly $600 million a year in doctor bills and lost wages."
" Sen. Thomas M. Middleton, a Democrat who represents a former tobacco county in Southern Maryland, said he doesn't preceive "a real strong sense of urgency" to pass a statewide ban because of moves to pass local bans. As chairman of the Finance Committee where the ban has been considered, Middleton said he might wait to see what happens in the House, where a committee voted it down last year, before talking any action."

Lobbyists from the restaurant association and the Baltimore Licensed Beverage Association both state that the ban will kill small business. Restaurant and bar owners will be hurt by this ban because " People come in and they want to have a drink and a smoke. It's all about choice. Individual proprietors can say they want to be somke-free, but a blanket statewide law would certainly hurt small businesses," Frank D, Boston III, a lobbyist for the Baltimore Licensed Beverage Association said.

1. Why do some senators think the ban will pass this year, when it has failed in the previous years?
2. If the ban is passed, will the bar's business remain steady?


Smitherman, Laura and Green, Andrew. "Statewide Smoking Ban Likely." Baltimore Sun: 1A

Fourth: "Smoking Ban in China"

"China starts this year off in a healthy way. Starting at the new year with a ban on smoking.



By Dikky Sinn, Associated Press | January 1, 2007
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong will become a mostly smoke-free city starting today, when a ban on lighting up in many public spaces, inside and out, comes into force. The prohibition is highly unusual in smoke-happy Asia.
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The ban covers restaurants, workplaces, schools, and karaoke lounges, and extends to outdoor places such as beaches, sports grounds, and parts of public parks.
The strict antismoking laws are extremely rare in Asia, home to some of the heaviest smoking populations in the world. Among the continent's major cities, Singapore is the only one with a similar law.
Amy Choi, a 27-year-old law student, supports the smoking ban because, she said, she dislikes breathing in secondhand smoke, even though she enjoys a puff when she drinks.
"I don't like people smoking next to me. It's so smoky and smelly," she said in an interview, apparently backing the ban.
Robert Hyde, an Australian who has smoked for more than 10 years, said the ban would not stop him from returning.
"If I need to smoke, then I'll smoke outside the restaurant and then go back to enjoy my meal. It's easy," Hyde said.
But Leung Kwok-hung, a lawmaker who opposed the measure, said a complete ban is unnecessary. "Smoking is not permitted in many of the outdoor areas. The coverage is so large but the smoking area is so limited," he said.
Hong Kong's lawmakers passed the law in October after a marathon 12-hour debate.
The stiffest opposition came from restaurants and the entertainment industry, where smoking is most prevalent.
Leung said the government should have allowed businesses to install filtration and ventilation systems. "It's ridiculous that the government is not allowing restaurateurs to use those enhancement facilities to maintain a smoking area in their restaurants," he said.
Antismoking groups pushed for the measure in Hong Kong, one of the most modern and affluent cities in Asia.
Smoking is common here, but is not as popular as in other parts of Asia.
The United States and European countries have instituted bans on smoking in recent years; it is rare to find an indoor US facility that permits smoking.
By next summer, smoking will be outlawed in all British pubs, cafés, offices, and public places.
Several American states and cities, Ireland, Finland, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Sweden have restricted smoking in similar locales, as have New Zealand and South Africa.
Hong Kong's ban does not yet include nightclubs, bars, mah-jongg parlors, bathhouses, or massage establishments. These venues have until July 1, 2009, to implement the new Hong Kong law."
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

China has also started this year off with a smoking ban, and once again, the ones who oppose the ban are mainly the restaurant owners.Some states that the ban is not necessary saying that smoking is common, but Leung Kwok-hung, a lawmaker, states, "Smoking is not permitted in many of the outdoor areas. The coverage is so large but the smoking area is so limited."

1. If smoking is not permitted in many outdoor areas, why have the ban?
2. Will the restaurant owners have the chance to sign for a waiver?


Dikky Sinn. "Hong Kong begins year with ban on public smoking." The Boston Globe. 1 Jan 2007.

"Hong Kong begins year with ban on public smoking." The Boston Globe. 20 Jan 2007

Sixth: "Smoking and Teens Fact Sheet"

"Cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence produces significant health problems among young people, including cough and phlegm production, an increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness, an unfavorable lipid profile and potential retardation in the rate of lung growth and the level of maximum lung function. Most importantly this is when an addiction forms which often persists into adulthood. "

"-Each day, 6,000 children under 18 years of age smoke their first cigarette. Almost 2,000 of them will become regular smokers - that's 757,000 annually.
-After a dramatic increase in teen cigar smoking throughout the 80s and early 90s cigar smoking declined 30% since 1997. In 2004, 12.8 percent of high school students and 5.2 percent of middle school students were current cigar users.
-In 2004, 6.0 percent of all high school students and 2.9 percent of middle school students used smokeless tobacco.
-Although smokeless tobacco use previously was uncommon among adolescents, older teens began using it between 1970 and 1985, at the same time that the smokeless tobacco industry was strengthening their marketing efforts.
-Other tobacco products used by high school and middle school students includes pipes (3.1% and 2.6%), bidisI (2.6% and 2.3%) and kreteksII (2.3% and 1.5%).
-Tobacco use is associated with alcohol and illicit drug use, and acts as a "gateway drug." Adolescents (12-17 year olds) who reported having smoked in the past 30 days were three times more likely to use alcohol, eight times more likely to smoke marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine, within those past 30 days than those 12-17 year olds who had not smoked during that time.
-Tobacco use in adolescence is also associated with a range of other risky, health-compromising behaviors, including being involved in fights, carrying weapons, engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, and using alcohol and other drugs.
-People who begin smoking at an early age are more likely to develop severe levels of nicotine addiction than those who start at a later age. Of adolescents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, most of them report that they would like to quit, but are not able to do so.
-In 2000, 59 percent of high school and 60 percent of middle school students who smoked seriously tried to quit smoking. In 2003, 61 percent of high school students said they wanted to stop smoking and 54 percent seriously tried to quit.
-Peers, siblings, and friends are powerful influences. The most common situation for first trying a cigarette is with a friend who already smokes.
-Youth who have two parents who smoke are more than twice as likely as youth without smoking parents to become smokers. More than 6 million youth (23 percent) are exposed to secondhand smoke daily, and more than 10 million youth aged 12 to 18 live in a household with at least one smoker.
-Among middle school students who were current smokers, 71% reported never being asked to show proof of age when buying cigarettes in a store, and 66% were not refused purchase because of their age.
-The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement prohibited tobacco companies from advertising their product in markets that target people younger than 18 years of age. However, this ban has not sufficiently accomplished its intended goal of curtailing tobacco exposure in children.
-Cigarette advertisements tend to emphasize youthful vigor, sexual attraction and independence themes, which appeal to teenagers and young adults struggling with these issues. A recent study found that 34% of teens begin smoking as a result of tobacco company promotional activities.
-Another study found that 52 percent of teens with non-smoking parents started smoking because of exposure to smoking in movies."



American Lung Association. 22 Jan.2007