Search

Objective: Nasal use of snuff is the predominant form of tobacco use among black South African women. This study examines the association between snuff use and chronic bronchitis (CB) among black South African women. Design: The study investigated a nationally representative sample of 4464 black South African women ≥125 years old who participated in the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey. Data on participants' tobacco use patterns, medical history and other relevant factors were obtained through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) were also measured. Data analysis included χ² statistics, Student t tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. Outcome measure: CB, defined as reporting a productive cough for ≥3 months/year for at least 2 successive years. Results: The prevalence of current snuff use was 16.1% (n = 719). Compared to non-users of snuff, snuff users were not only more likely to present with a history of tuberculosis (TB)(23.3% vs 15.9%; p = 0.06), but they were also more likely to present with CB (5.3% vs 2.8%; p<0.01) and a lower PEFR (275 litres/min vs 293 litres/ min; p<0.01). Significant determinants of CB included snuff use >8 times/day (odds ratio (OR) 2.86, 95% CI 1.17 to 7.02) a history of TB (OR 7.23, 95% CI 4.02 to 13.03), current smoking (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.60 to 5.04) and exposure to smoky cooking fuels (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.96). Conclusions: These data suggest that snuff use, in the form predominantly used in South Africa, increases the risk of CB. This challenges the idea that snuff may be a much less harmful alternative to smoking in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study changes in adolescent snus use from 1981 to 2003, the effects of the total snus sales ban (1995} and snus acquisition. Design: Biennial postal surveys in 1981-2003. Setting and participants: Entire Finland; 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-year-olds (n = 73 946; 3105 - 8390 per year). Main outcome measures: Snus use (experimental, daily/occasionally), snus acquisition (2001, 2003). Results: Snus experimentation grew in popularity before the total sales ban in 16- and 18-year-old boys and after the ban in all age and sex groups. A decrease was seen between 2001 and 2003, except for 18-year-old boys. Daily/occasional use mainly followed the same pattern in boys while in girls the daily/ occasional use was rare and no significant changes were observed. In 2003, bays experimented with snus more often than girls (12-year-olds 1% v0%, 14-year-olds 9% v4%, 16-year-olds 30% v 12%, 18-year-olds 44% v 18%). Hardly any girls used snus daily/occasionally, but 1% of 14-year-old boys, 7% of 16-year-olds, and 9% of 18-year-olds did. Of daily/occasional users, 84% acquired snus from friends or acquaintances, 55% from tourist trips to neighbouring countries (Estonia, Sweden), and 7% through sport teams; 24% obtained it from under-the-counter sources. For experimenters, the corresponding figures were 79%, 18%, 0.3%, and 5%. Conclusions: The total sales ban did not stop snus use; instead, the increase continued after the ban. Friends who travel to neighbouring countries ad as go-betweens reselling snus. Snus is used even by the youngest adolescents, thus contributing to the nicotine dependence process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The use of smokeless tobacco (ST) (snuff and chewing tobacco) has long been associated with baseball in the USA. This article reviews six years of survey data from major and minor league baseball players to evaluate trends in tobacco use and quitting patterns over time in order to gain insight into the effects of past interventions and to document continued intervention needs. Method: Surveys were distributed by athletic trainers to major and minor league professional baseball players during spring training session in the six years from 1998 to 2003. The surveys were anonymous and identified only by team, level of league, and other self reported demographic data. Results: ST use among professional baseball players remains much higher than among young males in the general population, and use is most prevalent among white non-Hispanic players. There was a significant decrease in ST use among minor league players from 1998 to 2003, with seven day self reported use declining from 31 .7% in 1998 to 24.8% in 2003. No significant year to year changes were observed for major league players. Major league players' self reported past week use rates, estimated at 35.9% in 1998 and at 36% in 2003, were consistently higher than those of minor league players. Self reported prevalence of past month cigarette and cigar smoking was much lower than ST use for both major and minor league players. Conclusions: Six years of survey data confirm a continuing high use of ST among professional baseball players. Results suggest that the effects of the broad spectrum ST control efforts launched over the past decade may have been stronger among minor than major league players. Stronger policy interventions at the major league level and multi-level efforts, including programmes to increase the use of effective quitting aids and assistance, at both levels of play are needed. Future research is needed to further clarify changes in ST practices among professional players and set policy intervention directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is popular among black South African women and children. The study sought to determine the nicotine delivery capability of popular industrialised and traditional SLI brands in South Africa, and to provide information for policy action by regulatory authorities. Design: Laboratory chemical analysis of four industrialised and one traditional SLT products commercially available, using previously published analytical methods. Potential for dependence was inferred from nicotine delivery capabilities determined by the percentage free base nicotine. Measurements: Moisture, pH, total nicotine, and percentage free base nicotine. Results: Total nicotine content was between 6-16 mg/g. The pH varied between 7-10 and this correlated with percentage free base nicotine, which ranged between 10-99%. The nicotine delivery capability of the traditional product was lower than that of the industrialised products except for the recently introduced portion bag snus, which had comparable total nicotine but the lowest pH and percentage free bose nicotine. The most popular SLI brands showed the highest percentage free base nicotine ever reported for any industrialised SLT or cigarette brands. Small cans contained higher nicotine than the large cans of the same brand tested. Findings from the study support a potential for limited "product graduation" by users. Conclusions: South African SLT users are mostly exposed to potentially very highly addictive levels of nicotine that may favour tobacco dependence and its consequent health risks. The increasing use of SIT by women of childbearing age support the need for intensified policy action to control its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the nicotine intake of snuff users in Great Britain. Measurement of blood nicotine and cotinine concentrations after taking snuff; Increase in plasma nicotine to concentrations; Factors influencing the variations in blood nicotine concentration level.

Evaluates the dangers of snuff taking in Great Britain. Measurement of blood concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in snuff users; Composition of snuffs; Association of oral cancer patients to snuff taking.

Reports the challenge of government regulations to ban oral snuff by United States Tobacco International company in Great Britain. Details of the case; Historical background of the company; Impact of the case on the public.

Reports the announcement of a ban on oral snuff by the Department of Health in Great Britain in March 1990. Implementation of the ban under the consumer protection legislation; Concern about the carcinogenicity of oral snuff; Description of oral snuff.

Reports on the US researchers' findings that some tobacco companies deliberately manipulate their oral snuff products to addict adolescent smokers. Analysis of different brands of oral snuff products for nicotine content and pH; Bioavailability of nicotine in high-pH snuff products; Call for the US Food and Drug Administration to regulate nicotine in tobacco.

A letter to the editor concerning the taxation policy on moist snuffs being promoted by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco is presented.

The article discusses tobacco. Tobacco is to many persons a means of enjoyment, and is well borne by them, if they take it with moderation; it soothes nervous irritability and makes men often look more contentedly on their troubles. On the other hand excessive smoking is decidedly injurious to the majority of people by affecting the heart, the digestion, the nerves, and the throat. In many cases diminution of the amount of smoking, or taking a milder kind of tobacco, remedies the bad effects; in some, however, the use of tobacco has to be given up entirely.

A recent tobacco industry study commissioned by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and conducted by the American Health Foundation explored an "experiment in progress"-the use of snus (oral snuff) by Sweden's males as a possible substitute for cigarette smoking and as a way to reduce male lung cancer. Swedish Match selects special tobacco blends and employs a new fermentation process to prevent formation of tobacco specific nitrosamines. It could be argued that the low levels in Ettan, the most popular Swedish brand, make it "safer". However, the Ettan levels (1800 parts per billion) are still hundreds of times greater than what would be allowed in regulated products.

OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of spit (smokeless) tobacco (ST) use in a sample of high school baseball athletes in California. DESIGN This cross sectional study was a survey of 1226 baseball athletes attending 39 California high schools that were randomly selected from a list of all publicly supported high schools with baseball teams. At a baseball team meeting, athletes who agreed to participate and had parental consent completed the study questionnaire. To enhance the accuracy of self reported ST use status, a saliva sample was collected from each subject. The questionnaires and saliva samples were coded and salivary cotinine assay was performed on a random subsample of 5% of non-users who also were non-smokers. Biochemical assay indicated that 2% tested positive for cotinine inconsistent with self reported ST non-use. RESULTS Overall, 46% had ever used ST and 15% were current users. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) suggested that, among high school baseball athletes, age, living in a rural area, being white, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, not knowing about the adverse effects of ST, perceiving little personal risk associated with ST use, and believing that friends, role models, teammates, and same age baseball athletes in general used ST, increased the likelihood of being an ST user. CONCLUSION The findings indicate that considerable experimentation with ST products occurs among high school baseball athletes in California, and many are current users. ST interventions targeting this population are needed to stop the transition from experimental ST use to tobacco dependence. Correlates of ST use for consideration in future intervention studies are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Examines the effect of snuff dipping on bronchial reactivity. Risk of carcinoma of the oral mucosa; Difficulty in showing increased bronchial reactivity with inhaled cigarette smoke containing multiple constituents in a breathable form.