Cigarette package health warnings : international status report

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

International overview ranking 140 countries based on the size of warnings for cigarette packages; lists those countries that have finalized requirements for picture-based warnings. Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands have the largest warnings in the world at 30% at front of the package, 90% at back. Canada has 50% at front, 50% at back.

http://www.fctc.org/dmdocuments/warnings-intl%20status%20report%20Oct%202008.pdf


Comment: The content of text and graphic warnings is often vivid and gruesome, and emphasizes the harsh health realities of smoking.

Cough, dyspnea, and reticulonodular opacities in a 58-year-old smoker

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This medical case presents the diagnosis of a 58-year-old woman with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH). Her symptoms, her pack a day smoking consumption and 40 pack-year history of tobacco use factored into the diagnosis, due to the links between PLCH and tobacco use.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.06-2595

Comment: So often articles about the adverse health effects of tobacco use are generalized and apply to an entire population. This article deals with one woman, her symptoms, her medical diagnosis, and this makes it seem more personal.

Campaign for a Smoke-free Ride

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

On November 20, 2008, the Ontario Lung Association launched the Campaign for a Smoke-free Ride, a program that urges parents not to smoke in their car when children are passengers. This website is designed to give parents who smoke the information and support they need to give their children a healthy, smoke-free ride.

http://www.smokefreeride.ca

Comment: On January 21, 2009, also known as Weedless Wednesday, Ontario will become the third province in Canada to enact legislation that will ban smoking in vehicles with children.

The development of Philip Morris's position on environmental tobacco smoke for its website : report

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Introduction – History – Managing secondhand smoke, our commitments and actions to reduce unwanted ETS – ETS, lung cancer and heart disease – Young children and ETS – Reasonable public smoking restrictions – Discussion/Conclusion – References.

http://www.who.int/entity/tobacco/surveillance/ti_monitoring/ets_pm_.pdf

Comment: It's always interesting to see industry spin unspun.

So you want to quit smoking : have you tried a mobile phone?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Explores the impact of mobile phone ownership on tobacco consumption. Using panel data from 2,100 households in 135 communities of the Philippines collected in 2003 and 2006, this study finds that mobile phone ownership leads to a 20% decline in monthly tobacco consumption.

http://go.worldbank.org/31W93KXFO0

Comment: Mobile phones present an important but as yet largely unused medium to deliver interventions inexpensively and anonymously.

Nicotine and carcinogen exposure with smoking of progressively reduced nicotine content cigarette

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This 10-week longitudinal study examines the effect of smoking research cigarettes with decreasing nicotine content on smoking behaviour and chemical biomarkers of exposure. Researchers found that there was little smoking compensation when nicotine was reduced, and suggest that gradual reduction of nicotine content could be a viable way to reduce nicotine dependence and tobacco use.

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/16/11/2479

Comment: Interesting research into a possible way to reduce nicotine addiction in those who smoke, and prevent it altogether in youth who experiment with cigarettes.

How to make a condo complex smokefree

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)


Fact sheet answers common questions about how condominium owners can make their entire complex, including individual units, smokefree.

http://talc.phlpnet.org/pdf_files/0091.pdf

Comment: In Canada, smoke-free new-construction buildings have popped up in Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg, where condo units have sold out quickly.

Civil disobedience and tobacco control : the case of BUGA UP

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The author discusses the history of the group BUGA UP (Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions) who defaced or "re-faced" tobacco billboard advertisements in Australia from approximately 1978-1994. The new messages emphasized the adverse health effects of tobacco and/or the way the tobacco industry profits from addiction.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/5/3/179.pdf


Comment: This article goes nicely with the previous powerpoint presentation. It also includes images, and a good history of BUGA UP.

Civil disobediance & tobacco control : BUGA UP in Australia [slideshow]

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Contains pictures of billboards advertising tobacco products that were defaced by BUGA UP (Billboard Utilizing Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions) and created by MOP UP (Movement Opposed to Unhealthy Promotions) in Australia from 1979-1986. The messages highlight that smoking causes adverse health effects and that the tobacco industry is profiting from addiction to their products.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/vol11/issue3/images/data/DC1/Civilzip.ZIP

Comment: The images of defaced billboards in this powerpoint presentation are worth a look!