How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease

How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease
Author: United States. Public Health Service. Office of the Surgeon General
Publisher:
Total Pages: 728
Release: 2010
Genre: Government publications
ISBN:

This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.

The Chemistry of Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke

The Chemistry of Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke
Author: Irwin Schmeltz
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 204
Release: 1972
Genre: Medical
ISBN:

The present volume comprises a compilation of papers pre sented as a Symposium on the Chemical Composition of Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke during a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D. C., September 12-17, 1971. The Symposium was organized so as to cover, in the time allotted, those aspects of tobacco research that are both per tinent and relevant to the most demanding problem facing research ers in the field today--that is the development of a less hazard ous cigarette. The path to such an objective, however, is still rather long and not easily traversed. For example, in identifying the hazard associated with smok ing, one must first know something of the chemical composition of tobacco smoke, and moreover, how the smoke components arise from the various leaf components. In addition, bioassays of smoke fractions and components therein are necessary to identify noxlous substances, and to correlate biological activity with chemical composition. Finally, to achieve the stated objective, methods need to be developed for removing the identified hazards from the smoke--whether they be by specially cultivating tobacco plants, or by modifying tobacco smoke through the use of filters, additives or similar devices.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 351
Release: 1986-02-01
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309074568

This comprehensive book examines the recent research investigating the characteristics and composition of different types of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and discusses possible health effects of ETS. The volume presents an overview of methods used to determine exposures to environmental smoke and reviews both chronic and acute health effects. Many recommendations are made for areas of further research, including the differences between smokers and nonsmokers in absorbing, metabolizing, and excreting the components of ETS, and the possible effects of ETS exposure during childhood and fetal life.

Virtually Safe Cigarettes

Virtually Safe Cigarettes
Author: Gio B. Gori
Publisher: IOS Press
Total Pages: 184
Release: 2000
Genre: Cigarettes
ISBN: 9781586030575

Cigarette smoking is risky. Yet, official epidemiologic evidence indicates that less risky cigarettes are both desirable and feasible. Indeed, during the '70s, the National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the US Department of Agriculture and the cigarette industry cooperated in an intensive and promising programme to develop less hazardous cigarettes.