Many Cigarette Additives Have ‘Pharmacological’ Actions, Study Finds

August 4, 2007 – 11:22 am | posted in Smoking / Quit Smoking

FINDINGS:

A new UCLA study shows that at least 100 of the 599 documented cigarette additives have ‘pharmacological’ actions, many of which enhance or maintain the delivery of nicotine and may increase the addictiveness of cigarettes.

IMPACT:

As lawmakers debate whether to allow federal regulation of tobacco products, the study’s findings point to a need for regulation of cigarette additives as well.

BACKGROUND:

Researchers investigated tobacco industry documents and other sources for evidence of possible pharmacological and chemical effects of tobacco additives. The study found that 100 of the 599 documented cigarette additives had pharmacological actions that camouflage the negative impact of smoke in the environment by masking odor, visibility and irritation (without equivalent efforts to decrease the harmful effects of second-hand smoke); enhance or maintain nicotine delivery; and mask symptoms and illnesses associated with smoking behaviors (many botanical and other additives have anesthetic, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiviral properties).

—————————-
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
—————————-

AUTHORS:

Michel D. Rabinoff, assistant research psychiatrist at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

JOURNAL:

The research appears in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Public Health.

FUNDING:

The National Institute of Mental Health supported the research.

Source: Mark Wheeler
University of California - Los Angeles

Popularity: 1% [?]

Share This

Also Read

Health Groups Renew Effort To Raise Wisconsin Cigarette Tax To Fund Health Care

Have A Smoke Free Holiday

Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations Rarely Implement Harshest Penalties, Report Finds

Tobacco Companies Admit Their Products Cause Cancer, But Not In Those Who Sue Them

Smokers Who Cut Back On Cigarettes May Negate Benefit Through ‘Compensatory Smoking’

Heavy Smokers Compensate For Less Cigarettes U Of MN Study Shows

Coalition Pushes For State Cigarette Tax Increase To Fund Children’s Health Care

Sheffield: City’s Shock Smoking Toll

Drip Infusion 100 Receives Approval As Additional Indication Of Treating Behcet’s Disease With Refractory Uveoretinitis

Selective Amnesia — How A Traumatic Memory Can Be Wiped Out