December 10, 2013
The Kentucky Regional Poison Control Center of Kosair Children’s Hospital has received 39 calls about e-cigarettes so far this year, a 333-percent increase from nine calls received in 2012. Nationally, poison control centers have seen a 161 percent increase in calls from people with concerns about these devices. With sales of e-cigarettes doubling to $1.5 billion in the past year, the calls are likely to increase.
Details here.
December 10, 2013
Our paper on the tobacco industry's role, going back to the 1980s, in building what is now called the Tea Party was the most downloaded paper in Tobacco Control for the month of November, the 10th month in a row since it was published in February.
December 5, 2013
We (and others) have shown that as little as 30 minutes of breathing secondhand smoke impairs the ability of arteries to dilate (get bigger) in response to increased demands for blood flow. This effect occurs because secondhand smoke exposure turns off an enzyme called nittric oxide synthase in the artery walls that releases nitric oxide which, in turn causes the artery to relax and dilate. (Stimulating nitric oxide synthase is how Viagra works to increase blood flow to the penis to cause an erection; secondhand smoke is like anti-Viagra..) This impairment of arterial function plays in important role in development of heart disease and in mediating the response to a heart attack.
The question has repeatedly come up of just how fast this effect can happen.
My colleague Matt Springer has developed an exposure chamber in which rats can be exposed to secondhand smoke in a controlled way to measure its effects on arteries. His group (which incldes me) just published a paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research showing that as little as 1 minute of secondhand smoke exposure at about the level of a smoky restaurant or bar measurably reduces the ability of arteries to dilate.
This information adds to the case that the cardiovascular system is exquisitely sensitive to something in tobacco smoke.
December 2, 2013
New York City is considering the sensible step of adding e-cigarettes into its smokefree law. This makes sense because, as I have noted earlier, e-cigs pollute the air with exhaled nicotine, fine particles.
Even more important, there is direct human evidence that passive vapers absorb nicotine from secondhand exposure to e-cigarette aerosol at levels compariable to that found in people breathing secondhand smoke. (Here is the study.)
The policy issue is whether e-cig companies (which are more-and-more becoming cigarette companies) can force people who chose not to use their nicotine delivery products to suffer the consequences of absorbing secondhand nicotine (and other chemicals) into their bodies.
I say "no." New York has cleaned up the indoor air. There is no reason to allow it to be re-filled with nicotine and other toxic chemicals.
November 28, 2013
I am cross posting the CPATH analysis of the TPP because it is so well done.
Intellectual Property Chapter of Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement, Tobacco, and Public Health
CPATH Analysis - November 25, 2013
New analysis of the leaked Intellectual Property Chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) finds potential threat to tobacco-control measures, and the sovereign ability of nations to protect public health from tobacco-related disease and death. (See complete CPATH Analysis.)
Understandings Regarding Public Health Measures provide significant loopholes for tobacco companies to file trade charges, while offering no clear legal protection of public health.