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Tobacco (Nicotiana spp., L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family indigenous to North and South America, or to the dried and cured leaves of such plants. Tobacco leaves are often smoked (see tobacco smoking) in the form of a cigar or cigarette, or in a smoking pipe, or in a water pipe or a hookah. Tobacco is also chewed, "dipped" (placed between the cheek and gum), and sniffed into the nose as finely powdered snuff. The Spanish word "tabaco" is thought to have its origin in Arawakan language, particularly, in the Taino language of the Caribbean, said to refer to a roll of these leaves (according to Bartolome de Las Casas, 1552) or to the "tabago", a kind of y-shaped pipe for sniffing tobacco smoke (according to Oviedo), but Sp. tabaco (also It. tobacco) was commonly used to define medicinal herbs from 1410, originating from the Arabic "tabbaq", reportedly since the 9th century, as the name of various herbs. The word might then be European, and later applied to this plant from the Americas.
Tobacco contains the alkaloid nicotine, a powerful neurotoxin that is particularly harmful to insects. All means of consuming tobacco result in the absorption of nicotine in varying amounts into the user's bloodstream, and over time the development of tolerance and dependence. Absorption quantity, frequency and speed seem to have a direct relationship with how strong a dependence and tolerance, if any, might be created. A lethal dose of nicotine is contained in as little as one half of a cigar or three cigarettes; however, only a fraction of the nicotine contained in these products is actually released into the smoke, and most clinically significant cases of nicotine poisoning are the result of concentrated forms of the compound used as insecticides. Other active alkaloids in tobacco include harmala alkaloids.
Tobacco smoking carries significant risks including the potential to develop various cancers as well as strokes, and severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. * Significantly shorter life expectancies have been associated with tobacco smoking. * Many jurisdictions have enacted smoking bans in an effort to minimize possible damage to public health caused by tobacco smoking. The substantially increased risk of developing cancer as a result of tobacco usage seems to be due to the plethora of nitrosamines and other carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco and its residue as a result of anaerobic heating, either due to smoking or to flue-curing or fire-curing. The use of flue-cured or fire-cured smokeless tobacco in lieu of smoked tobacco reduces the risk of respiratory cancers but still carries significant risk of oral cancer. * In contrast, use of steam-cured chewing tobacco (snus), avoids the carcinogenicity by not generating nitrosamines, but the negative effects of the nicotine on the cardiovascular system and pancreas are not ameliorated. *
More on [ Tobacco ]
Judge won't bar new federal tobacco marketing regs - http://bit.ly/zq9pf
taylorbrandgrp (Dave Taylor) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:09:12 -0000
Judge won't bar new federal tobacco marketing regs - http://bit.ly/zq9pf
@moongtraders snus tobacco is steam cured to avoid nitrosamines (sp)
jimcollins (jim collins) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:07:22 -0000
@moongtraders snus tobacco is steam cured to avoid nitrosamines (sp)
Does anybody know if cigarette butts/tobacco are harmful to cats?: I have a kitten (12 weeks) old that keeps st.. http://bit.ly/26jXth
StopTheSmoke (Smoke News) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:05:44 -0000
Does anybody know if cigarette butts/tobacco are harmful to cats?: I have a kitten (12 weeks) old that keeps st.. http://bit.ly/26jXth
@dilbilliards used the tobacco remedy before never heard of antiperspirant or a penny ...lol
MobonsCHAR (Mobons Charlotte) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:58:33 -0000
@dilbilliards used the tobacco remedy before never heard of antiperspirant or a penny ...lol
@calickizzle Just 1? Ok tobacco tax, cask for clunkers loan tax, oops thats 2, sorry #hcr
Freedomwarrior (BP) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:57:16 -0000
@calickizzle Just 1? Ok tobacco tax, cask for clunkers loan tax, oops thats 2, sorry #hcr
I never need to tell a lie about the tobacco industry. The truth and their own words are enough! Hear for yourself! http://bit.ly/12UjCI
TobaccoQwitter (Tobacco Qwitter) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:52:15 -0000
I never need to tell a lie about the tobacco industry. The truth and their own words are enough! Hear for yourself! http://bit.ly/12UjCI
ASH - Action on Smoking and Health - Pressure group and registered UK charity, lobbying for a comprehensive national programme to tackle the epidemic of tobacco-related diseases. Excellent collection of links and resources.
Meta Description: [ Action on Smoking and Health (ASH-UK): ASH supports the UK campaign for clear, effective legislation to reduce and eventually eliminate the carnage caused by tobacco. ]
ASH Scotland - Tobacco and smoking fact sheets, statistics, news, projects, policies, and resources.
Department of Health: Tobacco - Official policy, links to key documents, and details of related health initiatives.
Meta Description: [ Smoking is known to be the principal avoidable cause of premature deaths in the UK. That is why the Government White Paper Choosing Health: Making healthier choices easier, (building on the 1998 White Paper Smoking Kills), promises new action to tackle tobacco and reduce the 106,000 deaths in the... ]
Guardian Unlimited - Special report: Smoking - Collection of Guardian articles on smoking, tobacco, secondhand smoke, politics, public policy.
Nicotine Addiction in Britain - Complete online book by the Royal College of Physicians; covers physical. pharmacological, and psychological effects; addiction; the smoker's career; regulation of intake; treatment; regulatory approaches; recommendations.
No Smoking Day - No Smoking Day comes once a year. The web site is available all year round to provide support for quitters and for professionals.
QUIT - Practical advice on giving up. Telephone helpline available.
Meta Description: [ QUIT is the national charity that helps people give up smoking. ]
Rosen Stop Smoking Workshops - A stop smoking programme available to employers and to health clubs.
Meta Description: [ Stop Smoking Now uses the gradual reduction method that has been shown to help many thousands of smokers quit the smoking habit for good in just six weeks. ]
Smoke Free Birmingham - A guide to smoke free places in Birmingham, as well as information on how to quit.
Smoke Free Norfolk - An alliance of organisations working together to encourage a reduction in the prevalence of smoking through education and advice. Also includes the Totally Smoke Free Norfolk Eating Guide.
Meta Description: [ Smoke Free Norfolk is an alliance of Norfolk organisations, funded by the Department of Health. We are working closely together to encourage a reduction in the prevalence of smoking through education and advice. ]
SmokeFree London - An alliance of agencies working together to improve the health of all Londoners by eliminating or reducing their exposure to tobacco.
Meta Description: [ SmokeFree London is an alliance of agencies working together to improve the health of all Londoners by eliminating or reducing their exposure to tobacco ]
Smoking: Don't give up giving up - Official site produced by the NHS Health Education Authority. Useful advice on how to give up and you can ask for regular supportive e-mails.
Meta Description: [ Giving up Smoking - advice and information on smoking and giving up from the NHS. ]
Tobacco Control Resource Centre - Promotes tobacco control by working mainly with national medical associations in Europe. Encourages doctors to stop smoking and provides information to enable doctors to help their patients quit.
Meta Description: [ Promotes tobacco control by working mainly with national medical associations in Europe. Encourages doctors to stop smoking and provides information to enable doctors to help their patients quit ]
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