Smoking & Health Issues

Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke or ETS, is a combination of the smoke coming from the lit end of a cigarette plus the smoke exhaled by a person smoking.

Public health officials have concluded that secondhand smoke from cigarettes causes disease, including lung cancer and heart disease, in non-smoking adults, as well as causes conditions in children such as asthma, respiratory infections, cough, wheeze, otitis media (middle ear infection) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In addition, public health officials have concluded that secondhand smoke can exacerbate adult asthma and cause eye, throat and nasal irritation.

PM (Philip Morris) USA believes that the public should be guided by the conclusions of public health officials regarding the health effects of secondhand smoke in deciding whether to be in places where secondhand smoke is present, or if they are smokers, when and where to smoke around others. Particular care should be exercised where children are concerned, and adults should avoid smoking around them.

We also believe that the conclusions of public health officials concerning environmental tobacco smoke are sufficient to warrant measures that regulate smoking in public places. We also believe that where smoking is permitted, the government should require the posting of warning notices that communicate public health officials’ conclusions that secondhand smoke causes disease in non-smokers.

The post Secondhand Smoke Causes Disease in Non-Smokers appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.

Smoking & Health Issues

Smoking and Pregnancy

Women who quit smoking before or during pregnancy reduce the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes.

Women who smoke have more difficulty becoming pregnant and have a higher risk of never becoming pregnant. Women’s smoking during pregnancy increases the risks for pregnancy complications, premature birth, spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.

Babies of mothers who smoked during pregnancy on average have lower birth weights. Low birth weight babies are at greater risk for childhood and adult illnesses and even death. Women who quit smoking before the third trimester (the last 3 months) of their pregnancy are more likely to have babies who are close to normal weight.

Smoking by pregnant women can cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). According to the 2004 US Surgeon General’s Report, infants whose mothers smoked before and after birth are at three to four times greater risk for SIDS, and babies exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are at twice the risk.

When mothers smoke during pregnancy, it hurts their babies’ lungs. Infants of mothers who smoked during pregnancy have reduced lung function and may have increased frequency of lower respiratory tract illness. They may also have increased risk for impaired lung function in childhood and adulthood. For pregnant women, smoking could also put their babies at increased risk of asthma and respiratory infections.

The post Pregnancy Health Risks Caused by Smoking appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.

Smoking & Health Issues

Low Tar Cigarettes

Philip Morris USA’s Use of Brand Descriptors

Philip Morris USA does not imply in our marketing, and smokers should not assume, that lower-yielding brands are safe or safer than full-flavor brands.

There is no safe cigarette. “Medium,” “mild,” “light” and “ultra light” cigarettes are no exception.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stated that “smoking ‘low tar’ or ‘light’ cigarettes does not eliminate the health risks of smoking. If you’re concerned about the health risks of smoking, stop smoking … There’s no such thing as a safe smoke.”

As of today, there is no cigarette on the market which public health organizations endorse as offering “reduced risk.” If smokers are concerned about the risks of smoking, quitting is by far their best alternative for reducing those risks.

The post Philip Morris says There is No Safe Cigarette appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.

Smoking & Health Issues

Quitting Smoking

To reduce the health effects of smoking, the best thing to do is to quit.

Public health authorities do not endorse either smoking fewer cigarettes or switching to lower tar and nicotine brands as a satisfactory way of reducing risk. In fact, one of the required cigarette warnings for packages and advertisements in the U.S. is, “SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.”

The post Quitting Smoking Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.

Smoking & Health Issues

Addiction

Philip Morris USA agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking is addictive. It can be very difficult to quit smoking, but this should not deter smokers who want to quit from trying to do so.

The post Philip Morris Agrees – Cigarette Smoking is Addictive appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.

Smoking & Health Issues

Cigarette Smoking and Disease

There is no safe cigarette.

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely to develop such serious diseases than non-smokers.

These have been and continue to be the messages of the U.S. Surgeon General and public health authorities worldwide. Smokers and potential smokers should rely on these messages when deciding whether or not to smoke.

The post Cigarette Smoking and Disease appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.

US judge refuses to let tobacco companies silence Hong Kong anti air-pollution group – agrees to hear Clear The Air arguments

With the Trademark “Marlboro Lights” at risk, Clear The Air may be able to accomplish what the Government and Legco failed to do in yesterday’s Smoking Ordinance amendment. On Oct. 10, Judge Kessler granted the pro-clean air organization permission to be heard in the US court.

The new Hong Kong anti-tobacco law, passed on Thursday, gives Philip Morris until 2008 to take the Marlboro Lights brand off the market. If the US judge agrees with Clear The Air, Philip Morris will be required show no objection to Clear The Air’s application for revocation of the “Marlboro LIGHTS” trademark in Hong Kong and anyone can then sell cigarettes with that name until 2008, destroying the value of the brand to Philip Morris

The post Hong Kong Anti-Tobacco Law appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog.