Day 9.  Katie

Oh dear, the money I am supposed to be saving on ciggies, I am rapidly spending on parking fines! The non smoking recluse I am has made me turn to late night biscuit sessions, consequently I then sleep in and forget to move my car and receive a £50 fine! NIGHTMARE.

I think the effects of quitting are showing a bit where the cigarettes have been so damaging on my body the results are gross. I’m coughing, have a running nose, dry skin and terrible spots, not forgetting the dreadful weight gain, but I guess I’m starting to realise just how bad smoking is for me, all that crap coming out in its own wicked ways and when I reflect I suppose it’s quite bad at 23 to be out of breath when running up the escalator! I think that is going to be my new goal to be able to climb the escalator with out my chest locking like a chastity belt. I’ve often told myself ‘it’s not the fags, no self respecting Londoner can climb those mammoth escalators without a slight wheeze’.

I think the denial is starting to fade and the realisation is quite scary, I’m killing myself in my twenties. How awful is that? But not only that I’m finding it incredibly hard to stop contributing to my own slow and extremely painful death! So I say a big ‘thank you’ to those conscious less tobacco companies that shamelessly promote this hit, shoving it down our throats, telling us it’s hip, cool, even necessary, roll on July the 1st I say!

Technorati Tags: companies, fags, katie, quitting, smoking, tobacco

• Smoking: Busting the Myths. Sunday 13 May 10.03pm Perry Listening to – Bush -...
• Stop Smoking and Reduce Your Carbon DAY 13 Perry – Kings Cross Listening to: Jarvis –...

• A Grocery-Shopping Hiatus: How Long Can You Eat from the Pantry? The following post is from Laurel Gray. I have a confession to make. I am...
• Tipping the Scales: 4 lbs. Lost this Week It may not seem like a lot, but 4 pounds lost is pretty significant to...

Amongst Brazilian tobacco farmers, suicide rates are seven times higher then the average suicide rate reported for the rest of the country. These deaths coincide with the seeding and harvesting of tobacco plants. Many of the suicides were suffering from acute neurological imbalances. Organophosphate pesticides can result in psychological depression. Tobacco farmers use this pestercide. Any connection?

The Brazilian Ministry of Health made changes to the pesticide labelling. The new labels for highly dangerous chemicals now resemble those of less toxic products. These changes took place after the agrochemical industry applied pressure on the government. However, most farmers are illiterate and protective clothing and storage facilities are expensive. Chemicals are often stored in a house or dwelling exposing children, pregnant women and the elderly to pesticide poisoning.

The tobacco industry have investigated and patented many technologies that reduce substances in cigarette smoke that cause cancer, heart disease and emphysema. These include ‘Eclipse’, ‘Premier’ – FDA regulated devise could be used to smoke crack, and ‘Accord’ – a specially constructed cigarette and lighter. Most of these devices have been withdrawn or never implemented.

Using advanced biotechnology, tobacco crops have now been engineered and grown to contain higher levels of nicotine. These crops fit the legal definition of a drug. In 1968 Dr David Owen tried to introduce nicotine to the Medicines Act (Pharmaceutical regulations) and proposed that tobacco as such a substance the act should control cigarettes. However the plans were dropped after ministerial reshuffles within the UK government.

This consequently sees cigarettes being exempt from regulations that apply to pharmaceutical nicotine products. There by, tobacco products have a nicotine maintenance monopoly for nicotine addiction.

Death Rates

The death rate to cigarette related diseases in the UK is 120,000 p.a. That is a town the size of Norwich or Chester. In the past 40 years over 5 million people have died from smoking related diseases. That is 12 times more than in World War II.

Smoking related deaths are 6 times higher in the UK than road accidents, murder/manslaughter, poisoning, suicide, overdoses and HIV put together.

To put it into context, cocaine is an illegal class ‘A’ drug and is attributed to 140 deaths in the UK per year. Meanwhile the use of mobile telephones while driving was made illegal in the UK in 2004, 20 deaths in the last 5 years are linked to this practise. You have to ask yourself why can anyone from sixteen year old legally buy cigarettes?

China now has the largest death rate from smoking of any country overtaking the USA. A third of all men will die if current habits persist.

 1 million smoking related deaths in China in 2000

2 million smoking related deaths in China forecast by 2025

3 million smoking related deaths in China forecast by 2050 (8000 per day)

Cigarette consumption in China has risen from 100 billion cigarettes in the early 50’s to over 1,800 billion today.

Find more information about smoking in China here.

 Worldwide deaths from smoking –

4 million in 2000 -- 50/50 between developed and developing countries.

10 million by 2030 -- 70% in developing countries.

As litigation and laws surrounding the tobacco industry tighten up in USA and the EU the tobacco industry are shifting production and sales to the new markets of Russia, Poland, Cuba, Mexico, Egypt, India, South America and South Africa. There are little or no laws governing the sale of tobacco in these countries. Pressure on these governments to legislate against tobacco consumption now could save millions of deaths in the future.

If worldwide consumption of cigarettes decreased by half by 2020 25 million premature deaths in the first quarter of the century and 150 million in the second quarter of the century would be avoided.

People who stop smoking live longer, contribute to society for longer, experience improved health, lower the demand on the NHS, reduce the cost to employers in days lost to smoking related illnesses, have more money to spend and create more jobs.

Cigarettes are exempt from most forms of consumer protection because products were already in the market before consumer laws were developed. The extent of harm to consumers by cigarettes cannot reach safety standard requirements as imposed on other products.

Image if you will if you just invented a cigarette and took it onto the popular television show ‘Dragon Den’ How would you present it to the Dragons and what sort of reaction would you think you would get? Watch Dragons Den -- Duncan Bannatyne in this Quit video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtfKpYCGB8

Although there have been moves to restrict advertising cigarette brands, introducing health warnings and lowering tar rates in cigarettes, nicotine regulations serve the tobacco industry over public health. Tobacco companies make voluntary concessions rather than legislate. This gives an air of perceived respectability to the industry, although agreements are difficult to monitor, controls are easily evaded and there are no penalties for violations. Health warnings also work in favor of manufacturers in litigation defense cases.

Tobacco companies make a big noise of how most of their litigation cases are overthrown at appeal. The tobacco companies are at a distinct advantage over individuals, companies or evens States, because of their huge cash reserves they can tie the courts up for decades.

Technorati Tags: cancer, china, deaths, depression, dragons den, Duncan Bannatyne, emphysema, farmers, habits, health, heart disease, illiterate, Medicines, NHS, nicotine, pesticides, poisoning, quit, smoking, suicide, tobacco, toxic, warnings

• What Is A Cigarette? Before exploring health issues synonymous with tobacco smoking, it is...
• Stop Smoking and Reduce Your Carbon DAY 13 Perry – Kings Cross Listening to: Jarvis –...

• Ideas for Blogging Content Pt 1 Business blogging is rife with benefits for those who utilize it properly, as it adds...
• Most Important Healthy Baby Tips There are some risks that you may face during your pregnancy as an expectant mother,...

Before exploring health issues synonymous with tobacco smoking, it is useful to look back and define what is a cigarette? 

A cigarette is a Nicotine Delivery System, a highly refined and carefully engineered product. Cigarettes are designed pacifically to deliver naturally occurring alkaloids like nicotine fast and efficiently to the body avoiding or masking them from the bodies natural defence mechanisms.

Nicotine is the cause of addiction but cigarettes are laced with up to 600 compounds commonly referred to as additives or flavourings, which mask the serious effects some of these compounds have on the body.

These ingredients are approved additives in food, however, were not tested by burning them. It is the burning of these substances that changes their properties. When burnt 4000 chemical compounds are made and these do most of the damage to the body, as many of them are toxic and/or carcinogenic. These include over 40 know carcinogenic including Hydrogen cyanide, Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxides.

If a person takes on average 10 hits from a cigarette and smokes between 20 and 30 cigarettes a day they are sending 1mg of nicotine to the brain. That’s 300 hits of cancer causing agents per day while the nicotine addiction leaves you craving for yet another hit.

To increase the amount of nicotine to the body household cleaners like ammonia are added to tobacco. Up to 40% more nicotine can be delivered faster to the smoker by using ammonia in the manufacture of cigarettes.

Levulinic acids are added to cigarettes to mask the harsh taste of nicotine. These acids also bind nicotine to the brains receptors and increase the kick felt by the nicotine. The more nicotine that is bound on the receptors the bigger the kick the smoker experiences.

Glycyrrhizin, liquorice and cocoa are compounds added to cigarettes to make the act of smoking a more enjoyable experience by masking the bitter taste of the nicotine. They are also added because in fact these compounds are bronchodilators, that is they dilate or open up the lungs membranes which allow more nicotine to enter the body.

Other common additives found in the manufacture of cigarettes are Arsenic (Rat Poison), Formaldehyde (Body Preservative), Acetone (Nail Polish Remover) Hexamine (BBQ Lighter), Cadmium (Rechargeable Batteries), Toluene (Industrial Solvent), DDT (Insecticide), Methanol (Rocket Fuel) and Lead (Petrol Fumes).

In 1995 Philip Morris recalled 8 billion cigarettes after traces of the chemical methyl isothiocyanate (Pesticide) were found in its filters. Internal documents from the Liggett Group revealed arsenic, DDT and taxophene were found in their products. Tobacco is now grown in developing countries were high, often unregulated use of pesticides are used. In the three months from seedbed to transplanting Kenyan farmers are recommended there should be 16 separate applications of pesticides on their crops.

1000 people give up smoking everyday – they die! View images of the Silent Killer.

Technorati Tags: addiction, body, burning, carbon monoxide, carcinogenic, chemicals, cigarette, crops, hexamine, hit, kick, lead, lungs, nicotine, pesticides, smoking, tobacco, toxic

• I Wish I'd Never Started Smoking Day 8 Kate Good Lord, I have to write, I’m...
• The Non-Smoking Recluse That I Am Day 9.  Katie Oh dear, the money I am supposed...

• How Smoking Affects your Health Out of the smoking-related illnesses, lung cancer or COPD/emphysema is the main cause of death...
• Calories in and Calories out One of the simplest possible ways that you can look at weight loss is on...

Here’s is an interesting pop quiz you can do to test your knowledge on smoking and the tobacco industry.

Scroll down to the end for the answers.

Q1. Marlboro cigarettes global annual sales exceed…

A. $15 Billion                                                 B. $5 Million

C. $ 10Million                                                 D. $10 Billion

Q2. How many cigarette related deaths are there in the UK per year?

A. 12,000                                                        B. 20,000

C. 100,000                                                      D. 120,000

Q3. How many compounds or additives are there in a cigarette?

A. 600                                                             B. 160

C. 60                                                               D. 600

Q4. When a cigarette is burnt, how many toxic and/or chemical compounds are made?

A. 1000                                                           B. 2000

C. 4000                                                           D. 10,000

Q5. Which country is the largest importer of American style tobacco?

A. UK                                                             B. USA

B. Brazil                                                         D. China

Q6. How many cigarette filters are estimated to be found as litter in the westernised world?

A. 4.5 Thousand                                             B. 4.5 Million

C. 4.5 Billion                                                   D. 4.5 Trillion 

Q7. Predicted deaths from smoking for the year 2030 are…

A. 4 Million                                                     B. 6 Million

C. 8 Million                                                     D. 10 Million

Q8. Brazilian tobacco farmers have a higher than average suicide rate from the rest of the country. Is the rate…

A. 3 x Higher                                                  B. 5 x Higher

B. 7 x Higher                                                  D. 10 x Higher 

Q9. The first country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco and smoking in public places is…

A. Australia                                                     B. Bhutan

C. Ireland                                                       D. Canada

Q10. Bidis are…

A. Old people                                                 B. A healthy cigarette

C. An unfiltered cigarette                                 D. A sweet 

Q11. Philip Morris’s Youth Smoking Prevention Program advertisement on MTV Europe was called…

A. You don’t have to smoke to be cool          B. Don’t do it!

C. Cool it… a smoke?                                   D. I’m cool, I just can’t help it.

Q12. Since the ban on tobacco advertising in the UK in 2003 how many new brands have Philip Morris launched?

A. 0                                                                 B. 1

C. 2                                                                 D. 3 

Answers

Q1 (A) Philip Morris manufactures, markets, sells and distributes in more than 160 countries.

Q2 (D) 120,000 deaths a year is equivalent to the population of a town the size of Norwich or Chester.

Q3 (A) Arsenic (Rat Poison), Formaldehyde (Body Preservative), Acetone (Nail Polish Remover), Hexamine ( BBQ Lighter), Cadmium ( Rechargeable Batteries), Lead (Petrol Fumes) Methanol (Rocket Fuel) and Ammonia (Household Cleaner) are all found in cigarettes.

Q4 (C) The additives used in the manufacture of cigarettes are government approved for food. However, they were not tested by burning them. It is the burning of the substances that changes their properties. Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic. i.e. cause cancer.

Q5 (B) Tobacco companies now grow and manufacture cigarettes in developing countries where overheads are less, markets are larger and anti tobacco legislation is almost non-existent.

Q6 (D) Cigarette filters are not biodegradable as cellulose acetate; a form of plastic, is one of the components that make up the butt and never breaks down.

Q7 (D) 70% of these deaths will be in developing countries.

Q8 (B) A link was found between organophosphate pesticides and skyrocketing suicides which coincided with the seeding and harvesting of tobacco crops in Venancio Aires.

Q9 (B) The Himalayan kingdom of 900,000 people banned tobacco use in early 2005 as part of its continuing tobacco-free initiative programme.

Q10 (C) Imported from India, these cigarettes contain tobacco but are wrapped in nonporous leaves and sold in a variety of flavours such as strawberry, mango and vanilla. Bidis are referred to as cigarettes with training wheels by health authorities.

Q11 (A) This initiative is dwarfed by corporate sponsorship, marketing and point of sale activity at rock concerts, formula 1 and sporting events.

Q12 (C) Basic and Marlboro Blend 28 have both been successfully launched in the dark market post advertising ban.

 Have you got what it takes to be a tobacco executive?

>> Take this cool interactive quiz  at www.thetruth.com Now <<

Technorati Tags: additives, ban, bhutan, bidis, butts, cancer, carcinogenic, chemical, deaths, farmers, filters, industry, litter, Marlboro, mtv, pesticides, public, question, quiz, smoking, stop, suicide, tobacco, toxic, youth

• Stop Smoking and Reduce Your Carbon DAY 13 Perry – Kings Cross Listening to: Jarvis –...
• Smoking: Busting the Myths. Sunday 13 May 10.03pm Perry Listening to – Bush -...

• $7,353.84 In Online Income! Every month there are 673,000 searches for the term 'make money online' and over a...
• Your Mind and Your Money: Hyperbolic Discounting Welcome once again to our continuing discussion of how your insane brain is costing you...

Killing your customers is not generally considered a good business practise, but tobacco companies seem to excel in this field. 

Associated health problems attributed to the smoking of cigarettes prior to the 1930’s were unknown. ‘Doctor Recommended’ and ‘Good for Digestion’ advertisements were common in the 1920’s. Then in 1932 a paper published by the American Journal of Cancer made the connection between cigarettes and cancer. 

Many more papers were subsequently released, solidifying the health issues from cigarettes. By 1957 the Surgeon General (USA) became involved with the issues and by 1964 he had filed an official report connecting cigarettes to cancer.

In the early 70’s a Smoking Act was passed by the US Congress, TV bans and warning labels were brought into effect. Within the space of four decades the image of cigarettes had changed. Smokers (the minority) still believe it’s their right to smoke, not the non-smokers (the majority) right to breathe clean air. On 1^st July 2001 smoking will be banned in all public places in the UK following successful bans already in place in Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Way back in 1973 warning labels were introduced and the first ban on smoking in a public place was introduced in Arizona. California, New York State and Ireland followed suit years later. Other countries throughout the European Union are now lining up to back a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces

In 1984 warning labels were changed on the packet of cigarettes. Meanwhile in Canada, Brazil, Singapore and Thailand packs already contained graphic coloured images with additional health warnings. Ireland and Belgium have indicated that they will introduce some of the 42 images approved by the EU in the near future. 

                                                         Leo Burnett     

                         ’Original’ Marlboro                       

Philip Morris used the Leo Burnett Company in 1955 to develop a ‘minor cigarette brand with a predominately feminine image and turned it in to a big seller by using close-up photos of ruggedly handsome men’, The ‘Marlboro Man’ arguably the most successful marketing campaign ever, took the idea of smoking and linked it with the image of rebellion, freedom and personal choice. Thus, any attacks made on smokers or smoking becomes an issue of losing that freedom or the government interfering in the personal choices of the people. This changed somewhat in 1993 when passive smoking or second hand smoke was recognised as a cause of cancer. The issues of freedom to smoke and personal choice changed to one of injuring others.

      Marlboro Man circa 1955     

      Marlboro cowboy circa 1956     

Marlboro Country circa 1973

The tobacco companies answered by employing marketing strategies for a healthier cigarette, this started in 1952 with the introduction of filters. 1.3% of cigarette sales had filters in this year but by 1956 over 25% had filters. Now almost all cigarettes sold are filtered. The next step in the elusive search for the healthy cigarette occurred in the 70’s with the introduction of the ‘Tar Wars’. Arguable the most famous brand created was ‘Marlboro Lights.’ The words Light and Medium were outlawed in 2002 in the UK. Cigarette tar and nicotine yields are measured by machines that smoke but bear little relation to the way humans smoke cigarettes. However it is widely perceived that a Light alternative is safer but there is no evidence to support this.

The continuation of marketing ‘Marlboro Man’ and ‘Marlboro Country’ saw the emphasis shift from the product to one were a cigarette or pack of cigarettes had completely disappeared from the advertisements and now the focus was on satisfaction and taste. The whole appeal of the product is one of rebellion and freedom. Marlboro ads no longer sell a product but sell an image.

As the Western worlds taste for cigarettes diminishes with the knowledge of cancer and the new legislation against tobacco smoking in public places and raising the age to buy from 16 to 18, the tobacco companies shift their emphasis to new and emerging markets in developing countries. Not unlike other corporations who set up sweat shops in Free Trade Zones throughout the developing world, the tobacco companies are also taking advantage of cheap labour and land and take with them a whole new set of health, environmental and social problems. Although cigarette sales in the western world have diminished the tobacco companies report bigger profits year on year, but at what cost to public health and the environment?

Technorati Tags: cancer, Chesterfield, cigarette, cigarettes, environmental, filtered, filters, health, healthier, labels, leo burnett, light, Marlboro, marlboro country, marlboro man, menthol, nicotine, Philip Morris, profits, public health, ronald reagan, smoking act, social, tar, tobacco, warning

• Forward by The Inside Smoking Man I’m not a smoker. I’m not an anti smoker. I...
• No Smoking in LA December 2004 Perry I’ve taken this month of work and...

• Top Health Issues of 2007...and into 2008 The following is a list of prime health issues from 2007 that are expected to...
• Review: Jasmine et Cigarette (Tobacco) If you are like me, you have accumulated a number of sample vials, sprays and...