MDQuit News Archive - June 2010

FDA Could Lower Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes - June 17, 2010
Former FDA Commissioner David A. Kessler argues that the nicotine levels in cigarettes, which are currently around 10 milligrams, should be lowered to less then 1 milligram, a point he says where smokers will crave cigarettes less. This issue has been highly controversial among public health experts, with some arguing that rather than reducing smoking, this will create greater demand for illegal full-strength cigarettes and increase in the number of cigarettes smoked in order to satisfy addictions. Read more here.

U.S.-Made Cigarettes Higher In Cancerous Chemicals -- June 7, 2010
A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs, the main cancer-causing toxin in cigarettes) in U.S.-made cigarettes and foreign made cigarettes. The study found that U.S.-made cigarettes contained significantly higher levels of TSNAs than foreign made cigarettes. U.S.-made cigarette smokers had three times greater TSNA in their saliva and twice as much TSNA in their urine than foreign made cigarette smokers. Read more here.

Genetic Mutations Associated With Smoking -- June 7, 2010
Researchers at Genentech compared gene sequences from a lung tumor to that of healthy tissue in a 51-year-old man whom had smoked for approximately 15 years. When compared to the healthy tissue, the tumor tissue contained approximately 50,000 genetic mutations. The researchers quantified the changes that smoking may have caused for this man, that for every three cigarettes he smoked one mutation had occurred. Read more here.

Women Have Become the Largest Target of Tobacco Ads - June 7, 2010
Currently, men account for 80% of the world's smokers. As a result, tobacco companies have started targeting women in order to expand their clientele. Some strategies being utilized to increase the number of women smokers include pink cigarette packages and cigarette packages shaped like perfume. In response, The World Health Organization has asked that more action be taken against such advertising, especially in developing countries. Read more here.