The nicotinism is a term which characterizes the consumption of Tabac in general. It is generally used to indicate the behavior of the dependant people with the nicotine contained in the tobacco smoke.

The nicotinism is sometimes specified active nicotinism in opposition to the Passive smoking, which is the involuntary inhalation of smoke (known as secondary).

History

The tobacco was smoked initially by the Amerindian for an unspecified time. In 1556, André Thévet introduces the plant in Europe and cultivates it close to Angouleme, but it is with Jean Nicot, diplomatic French with the Portugal, which it must be popularized by his introduction to the court of France. The first botanical illustration of the tobacco is given by Nicolas Monardes in 1571.

The culture of the tobacco ensures the fortune and the expansion of several colonies of the south-east of the the United States (Maryland, Virginia…), during the XVIIe century.

Called nicotiane in the honor of its discoverer, the tobacco met a great success at the court of France, where therapeutic virtues were lent to him. However, the tobacco was interdict in England, in the Moslem countries, and in Russia where one risked the capital punishment in the event of consumption.

The Cardinal of Richelieu founded a tax on the tobacco, and Jean-Baptiste Colbert establishes a State monopoly sales in 1674. The use of the tobacco was popularized, and become the mark of refinement in the high society. The Cigarette is introduced in France in 1825.

Forms

The tobacco is consumed several manners:

  • smoked (Cigarette, Pipe, Cigar, Cigarillos, Bidî, to roll in bulk, in joint - i.e. mixed with Cannabis), Narguilé etc;
  • snuffed (by inhalation);
  • chewed (by maceration in the mouth), is by " mâchage" maybe while placing a pellet between lip and gum - practical which apprente with the Scandinavian Snus).

Consumption

In France

Evolution of consumption in France: Since the introduction in France of the cigarette in 1825, and its industrialization in 1840, cigarette smoking did not cease growing until in the years 1980. Second half of the years 1990 was marked by a notable reduction of the number of daily consumers: it is currently estimated at 25% of the French population, that is to say 15 million people (source: OECD).

This fall is ascribable with the devices of the laws Evin and its many modifications: whereas the tobacco was withdrawn from the price index of INSEE, the cost for the consumer increased periodically. Thus the price of the cigarettes grew of 40% over the period October 2003 - January 2004, while many assistance measures with the stop of the tobacco were promoted, like the medicalisation of the substitutes nicotinic. However, paradoxically, the stamps and other means of substitution to stop the tobacco remain not-refunded by the social security. However, this should change with the law on the total ban to into effect smoke in the public places coming the 2007 accompanied by a governmental envelope of 60 million euros per annum for the assumption of responsibility of the treatments of weaning (stamps, gums or drugs).

In the United States

In the United States, 20,9% of the population smoke in 2005, i.e. 44,5 million Americans. One notes a reduction in the proportion of smokers which was of 21,6% in 2003. Among the young people, 21,7% of the high-school pupils and 8,4% of the schoolboys smoked in 2004. According to an official study, the nicotinism is responsible of almost 440.000 annual deaths. The cost was estimated, at the end of the years 1990, with meadows of 75 billion dollars (taken in medical load) and to 82 billion dollars (in loss of productivity).

Economic channel

The production of tobacco, estimated at more than 8 million tons, is dominated by the China, the the United States, the India, the Brésil, and certain countries of the ex- the USSR. The very great majority of the countries buy tobaccos, even when they are themselves producers: in this case, the imports aim at compensating the gaps in term of diversity.

The manufacture of the tobacco is dominated by the China, the the United States, the countries of the ex- the USSR and the Japan. The cigarette represents the essence of the production, estimated at more than 5.000 billion units in 1993.

The first world producer of tobacco is the Chinese monopoly (China State Tobacco Company)

The 4/5 of the market are dominated by 6 multinationals with the various marks: it is, in the decreasing order of production:

The practices related to the marketing of this plant are the subject of hard controversies (cf Tabac).

Medical consequences

Cigarette smoking harms health. It is estimated that the nicotinism is at the origin of more than 4 million death per annum in the world (either 62 died for 100.000 inhabitants, 1 dead every 8 seconds, 60 million death in 50 years), including 60.000 in France (97 per 100.000 inhabitants) and nearly 5000 induced by the Passive smoking (of the smokers and nonthe smokers). WHO estimates that if consumption continues the current trends, the tobacco will make 10 million per annum dead, this mainly in the developing countries.

Nicotine and misses

The tobacco is regarded as a Drogue sells by auction in many countries. Its main thing Alkaloid, the Nicotine, has a psychoactive effect of cerebral stimulation and simultaneously of physical relieving. The combustion of the tobacco also releases from the Harmane and the norharmane which have an effect Antidépresseur. The habituation of the central nervous system with the nicotine combined with the harmane and the norharmane is very fast: some cigarettes can be enough to involve a dependence physical, then later on psychological. Nicotine, regarded a long time as single person in charge, only creates in fact little dependence to it. Additives are added by the manufacturers with an aim of intensifying the dependence consumers. It is the case of the Ammoniac, which allows the inhalation of smoke without causing cough and facilitates the absorption of the Nicotine.

The weaning results in an impression of lack, with the alarm clock in particular, this lack which can appear by disorders of the concentration, irritability, constipation, insomnia, irresistible desire to smoke ( craving ). The symptoms of lack can be decreased mainly by the use of nicotine pharmaceutical. But last the first days, the utility of the medicamentous assistances remains tiny. In the event of difficulty, it is desirable to seek an accompaniment by a qualified person (tabacologist, psychologist, etc…).

It is interesting to note that a desire for smoking ( craving ), passes after 2 or 3 minutes of patience.

Toxic substances

Smoke resulting from the combustion of the tobacco comprises more than 4.000 toxic substances, including 50 recognized carcinogenic by the International committee of Research on Cancer: Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, N-nitrosodiméthylamine and N-nitrosopyrrolidine during the vapor phase of smoke, whereas one found Goudron, benzopyrene, Cadmium, Nickel, N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and of the 4 (methylnitrosamino) - 1 (3-pyridyl-1-methyl ethyl ketone) (NNK) during the solid phase (particles) of smoke. Certain products, as for example the polonium 210 are radioactive. It produces also substances used in the Poison gas or the Insecticide S, like the Cyanure of hydrogen to a total value of 100 to 400 micrograms per cigarette (Forestite, Zyklon B) at the origin of the cardiovascular diseases related to the tobacco, and the Acroléine (Papite), to a total value of 10 to 140 micrograms per cigarette (what leads very easily to a going beyond of the acceptable limits legal in the air), powerful irritating mucous membranes, carcinogen by oral, and precisely soluble ingestion in ethanol.

Additives and flavors, and toxicity

The mixtures of tobacco used for the manufacture of the cigarettes can include/understand up to 10% of the weight in additives used in sauces and flavors for the fair mixtures (and nearly 15% for the mentholated tobacco). Moreover one finds also an impressive list of additives in the paper of cigarette, the filters, the sleeves carry-filter, and even the products of packing, supposed to be used as conservatives, antioxydants or antibacteriologic, or antimoisissure.

In the European Union, all the manufacturers have the obligation to publish the exhaustive list of the products used, for the culture, drying, the preparation, the texturage, the conservation, the fixing of the flavors or the modification of combustion. Their maximum concentrations in the mixtures of tobacco, the function justifying their addition, and lists it cultivated biological species (as well as the hybrid species which most especially conceived for industry) are also obligatorily provided.

It is true that the tobacco industry communicates much on the culture of the plant of tobacco (or the absence of GMO whereas its combustion in makes lose all the interest, the risk related to the genetic modifications being destroyed) or the safeguarding of the species, but does not make any serious study on the additives, in particular those whose combustion acts like catalysts supporting the synthesis of the Ammoniac starting from the other products of combustion of the plant and the very many natural added flavors or not (including within the filter, which supports the action of catalysts). But one can be astonished by the great quantity of Propylène glycol synthetic present in the “sauces” (as a “moistening” agent or a fixer of flavors), and on which the tobacco industry seems not to want to communicate (concentrating the essence of research on the only plant of the tobacco and the methods of culture and drying).

The significant amounts of Glycerol (also called glycerin, and nontoxic in itself) like moistening agent and solvent of flavors are dangerous, in particular under the effect of the modifiers of combustion, which reduce the temperature, support its hot dehydration and produce a great quantity of Acroléine, irritating and extremely poison (the Acroléine is also used as chemical weapon of war, is considered dangerous with 0,100 ppm and yet presents to more 0,120ppm in a smoked out atmosphere of a closed place).

In the same way the toxicity of the dioxide of Titanium, used like principal modifying additive of combustion (delaying), in particular because of the vapor release of Chlorine, led to the synthesis, in particular in the filter, of highly corrosive titanium chloride, its role being increased by the presence of many derivatives containing salts of Silicon (strongly present in the flue gas of the sheets and wood, and acting like catalysts).

This list includes/understands hundreds products (extracted from natural products, but especially chemical elements of synthesis). The amounts are the confused maxima present all produced, but are unfortunately not detailed by product (with the result that the total could reach nearly 33% of the total in weight of the mixture of tobacco and not the 10 to 15% announced). For example, Altadis states to use the following additives in the mixtures of tobaccos of the market products in European Union in the 2004 (majority are " arômes" , their transformation during combustion is not detailed (the more so as number of them are hydrocarbons of oil origin, charged in heavy metals), and number of them are prohibited in the food products):

See also: List of additives in the cigarettes

|width=" 8" |  |width=" 50%" valign=" top" | |- |colspan=" 3" | Notes:

  • (1) Sugars: white sugar (saccharose), brown sugars (saccharose), reversed sugars partially or completely (glucose, fructose and saccharose), corn syrups, honeies, maple sugar (saccharose).
  • (2) Cocoa and produced cocoa: cocoa powders, powders cocoa hulls, extracts of cacaco.
  • (3) Fruits (fresh or dry, extracts): juice and extracts of apple, apricot, fig, lemon, plums, (except their oils essential and gasolines, listed separately, treated, modified or synthesized.)
|}

Cardiovascular risks and respiratory

  • Sphere ORL: the tobacco is irritating, causing Laryngite S, deterioration of the Voix. Studies, behaviors secret by the industrialists of the tobacco, but revealed in November 2004, describe that “rats subjected to a smoked out atmosphere would have shown lesions of the nasal mucous membranes more important than those observed in rodents inhaling the smoke of the tobacco directly”. This chronic irritation is favourable with the formation of the Cancer S of the Pharynx and the Larynx.

  • Lung S: The tar deposits irritate the respiratory tracts and support the appearance of pulmonary Infection S, then of the obstructive chronic Broncho-pneumopathie , causing a hypoventilation of fabrics and a reduction in resistance to the physical exercises. In the long run, bronchitides become chronic being able to lead to the respiratory Insuffisance. The Carbon monoxide, as for him, replaces the Oxygène on the Hémoglobine, and consequently decreases the oxygenation of blood, causing breathlessness (Dyspnée).

  • the responsibility for the nicotinism in the genesis of the Cancer S (in particular of the Lung) was long to establish. The first studies which bind the tobacco to cancer were carried out during the period of the Nazi Germany, by Franz H. Müller (1939), Eberhard Schairer and Erich Schöniger of Unversité of Jena (1943). The Nazis, attaches with the purity of the body and their will of domination of the world under a racial mode carried out a great quantity of research on cancer (creation of one research institute at the University of Jona) and were the first to set up restrictive policies on the use of the tobacco (cf: Robert NR. Proctor. 380 pp. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Near, 1999). The carcinogenic role of the tobacco was also suspecté as of the shortly after the Second world war, in particular by Richard Doll, British epidemiologist, then experienced by studies of vast scale in the years 1950 and 1960. Intense the Lobbying of the industrialists of the tobacco however appreciably slowed down the diffusion of these data.

  • Heart and blood-vessels: the Nicotine causes an acceleration of the cardiac rhythm and comprises an effect Vasoconstricteur, inducing a malnutrition of fabrics. It involves moreover an increase in the rate of grease in blood. It supports directly, in the long run, the appearance and the aggravation of the Athérome, blocking the blood-vessels gradually, with all the implications: Angina pectoris, Myocardial infarction, Cerebral vascular accident, Artériopathie obliterating of the lower extremities… the risk of myocardial infarction is multiplied overall by 3 at the smoker and in a less way in the event of Passive smoking. The fact Chiquer also increases this risk. In the event of stop of cigarette smoking, the risk decrease but does not return on the level of nona smoker

  • In combination with the contraceptive Pilule, the nicotinism is a factor of appearance of Caillot S which can lead to a major venous Thrombose (phlebitis) or to a pulmonary Embolie, even a Myocardial infarction.

In France, 60  000 dead due to the tobacco are mainly due:

To the nicotinism are allotted more than 4,9 million dead per annum (a death every 8 seconds) and 60 dead million for the only second half of the 20th century, according to a report/ratio of the the World Health Organization. The nicotinism is well far in front of the alcoholism, which enters a little less than one million dead per annum. This Drogue is also the cause of at least 25 known diseases. One estimates at nearly 75% the cases of Cancer S bound directly or indirectly to the nicotinism (cancers of the Poumon S, of the Langue, the throat…).

The Passive smoking is also recognized as a cause of death.

Other effects

  • Fertility: it decreases as well at the man as at the smoky woman.
  • Sexuality: the nicotinism, by its role in the deterioration of the blood-vessels, supports the Impuissance.
  • diabetes: The nicotinism, as well active as passive, is associated with an increase in the risk.
  • AIDS: a study led on some 900 women during 8 years showed that the risk of viral rebound increases by 40% at the smoky ones and their immunological default risk is increased of more than 50%; the virological answer is degraded of 20% and the immunological answer of 15% ( American Journal off Public Health , June 2006).
  • Malformation S: to smoke during the pregnancy supports occurred of the labio-palatine slit (harelip) at the baby, shows an investigation carrying into nearly 4 million files, carried out by the National Center for Health Statistics. Even a low cigarette smoking (from 1 to 10 cigarettes per day) increases the risk.
  • On the level of the oral cavity:
    • risk of appearance of a Cancer of the mouth multiplied by 5 to 9 compared to the nonsmokers. This risk is correlated with the number of daily fume cigarettes and the exposure time and is slowly reversible (more than ten years of stop to return at the risk equivalent to that of the nonsmoker).
    • risk of Parodontite S severe multiplied by three, increased risk of loss of the teeth (correlated with the importance of the nicotinism and reversible at the end of 11 years of stop)

  • 78% of the employees awaits their employers the guarantee of a work place without smoke.

  • 93% of the employees regards as very important the risk associated with the fact of working in a smoked out environment.
  • the employees smokers are more easily subjected to pathologies involving of the stops diseases, and the sick leave are longer.
  • the cigarette appears among the first causes of fire and deterioration of equipment in the company (50% of the beginnings of fire according to internal study with AP-HP).
  • discrimination between smokers and nonsmokers (for example about times of pause) is suceptible to involve tensions and a degradation of the social climate

Appendices

Related articles

External bonds

  • State of the legislation antitabac in the world
  • Site of Canada Health. The tobacco industry and its lies
  • Report/ratio of WHO on the tobacco and health
  • active and passive Nicotinism and health a summary by GreenFacts of the scientific report/ratio of the International Research Center on Cancer (IARC)
  • the Funds of the Respiratory affections (the French Community of Belgium), is devoted in particular to the prevention of the nicotinism, you will find many extra informations and other interesting bonds
  • Association the Rights of the Nonsmokers (France)
  • Défi tobacco: to Quebec, in each year, the smokers are invited to cease the consumption of cigarette. The Challenge lasts 6 weeks and the participants who found a marainne or a godfather can deserve prices.
  • the danger of the nicotinism, put in scene in short-measuring: '' According to the law 91-32 ''
  • the tobacco kills half of its Impact consumers of the tobacco on the life expectancy of the active and passive smokers. Distribution of consumption in France by age and sex.
  • Of the tobacco: its history, its culture, its manufacture, its trade: its medicinal and toxic properties: its influence on the man: means of using about it according to its temperament, of withdrawing the greatest sum of wellbeing and pleasure and of avoiding from it the evils which result from its abuse/by Doctor G. - has. Henrieck, Paris, 1864
  • the new behaviors in Finland cause a drop in by 65% mortality (coronaropathies, men)
  • the tobacco with the door Ina files Télés

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