ASH Daily News for 26 September 2008

Graphic health images for cigarette packs on way

Graphic pictures showing the damage smoking can cause will be put on cigarette packets from next week.

Among the picture warnings are images of open-heart surgery, diseased lungs, rotten teeth and a man with an horrific growth on his throat.

The 14 images will begin appearing on packets from October 1, although tobacco manufacturers have until next September to comply with the change in the law.

The EU directive, which introduces the new warnings, states that health warnings must now cover 30% of the front and 40% of the back of a cigarette packet.

Research has shown that heath warnings can deter young people from taking up smoking and also help smokers quit.

Evidence from Canada and Australia, which introduced picture warnings in 2001 and 2006 respectively, shows they increase awareness and understanding of the health risks of smoking and decrease the purchase of cigarettes.

In Canada a survey conducted a few months after pictorial warnings were implemented revealed 44% of smokers said the new warnings increased their motivation to quit smoking and made 58% of smokers think more about the health effects of smoking.

Deborah Arnott, director of the health campaigning charity ASH, said: “The introduction of picture warnings on tobacco products is a strong visual reminder of the horrendous illnesses caused by smoking, and the evidence is that they work."

“But the evidence also shows that they would work better without pack branding, so we urge the Government to also implement plain packaging to maximise the impact of the picture warnings."

“In addition, we want the European Commission to amend the legislation as soon as possible to allow the warnings to be placed both on the front and back of the packs.”

Source: Wales Online, 25 September 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/4nza2g 

Region determines cancer risk gap: Smoking a factor

Researchers have discovered that the difference between the cancer risk of the poorest and the most wealthy varies between English regions.

Experts looked at 300,000 cases of common cancers between 1998 and 2003.

The biggest variation was in male lung cancers, where there was a much smaller gap between rich and poor in the east of England than in the north east.

The study was carried out by a team from the North West Cancer Intelligence Service and the UK Association of Cancer Registry.

They took information from all eight English cancer registries on breast, lung, cervical and skin cancers.

They said it was known that socio-economic status could affect cancer risk.

Lung cancer is usually caused by smoking, which is more prevalent among poorer groups, so it is expected that rates of the disease will be higher there.

The biggest difference was in male lung cancers in the north east - rising from 48 men per 100,000 among the wealthiest to 130 per 100,000 among the poorest.

However the gap was much smaller in the east of England, where 41 men per 100,000 of the most affluent were diagnosed with lung cancer compared with 85 per 100,000 of the most deprived.

The incidence of cervical cancer is much lower, but differences were still seen.

Among the poorest women in the north west, 16 per 100,000 were diagnosed with the disease compared with seven per 100,000 of the wealthiest.

Lorraine Shack of the North West Cancer Intelligence Service, who led the study, said it showed that measures to help people protect their health and prevent them developing cancer needed to be targeted at specific groups.

"There has been a lot of success with such programmes in the most affluent communities, so we need to aim for the same success in the poorest communities."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information, said: "It is important that everyone adopts a healthier lifestyle which includes giving up smoking, adopting a better diet, drinking alcohol in moderation and avoiding excessive exposure to UV radiation to lower their risk of developing the disease."

Source: BBC News, 26 September 2008  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/3r6nwe
 

Man dies as fire rips through flat

An elderly man was found dead after a flat blaze which is believed to have been started by a cigarette.

The tragedy happened on Sunday at around 8.30pm in Colne House on the Hart's Lane estate, Barking.

Four fire engines were sent from Barking and Dagenham stations, and 20 firefighters battled the flames for half an hour.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but there was nothing they could do as the 67-year-old man was already dead.

Families from other flats in the block evacuated themselves, and gathered together outside to wait for the emergency services.

The blaze ripped through the five roomed property, destroying 20 percent of the flat.

Police who were called say the cause is not suspicious.

A fire service spokesman said: "The Brigade was called at 2030, and the fire was under control within half an hour."

"The fire, believed to have been started by a cigarette, was non suspicious."

Source: Barking and Dagenham Post, 25 September 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/3zyu6f

Canada: Increasing number of schoolyard cigarette butts are contraband

A study for a national group of retailers suggests the number of teens smoking contraband tobacco is growing.

The Canadian Convenience Stores Association's "We Expect ID" program collected 22,498 cigarette butts from 155 Ontario and Quebec high schools during after class hours.

In Ontario, 26 per cent of the cigarette butts found were contraband, up from 24 per cent last year.

In Quebec, the number was 36 per cent, up from 35 a year ago.

The association says it's proof that cheap and easy-to-get illegal cigarettes are being smuggled and sold throughout Canada.

The group says the rise in contraband use comes at a time when youth smoking rates are at an all time low.

"This study makes it clear that kids, who shouldn't be smoking at all, are having no trouble getting their hands on illegal cigarettes that cost pennies a piece," Bryans said.

Forty eight per cent of the municipalities or regions surveyed exceeded a 30 per cent share of illegal cigarette butts, down slightly from 50 per cent in 2007.

"We're committed to being responsible community retailers and, when you see a highly regulated product like tobacco being sold without any checks or balances in your community, you've got to stand up and play a role in solving the problem," association president Dave Bryans said.

"But the government can start by telling kids it's not acceptable to possess cigarettes and that's the law."

The group points out illegal cigarettes are often sold for as little as $1 for a pack of 20 compared to $8 for government-taxed cigarettes.

Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised tough new measures aimed at discouraging tobacco access and marketing to children. One in four young people are smoking and the Conservative leader blamed that partly on targeted marketing by tobacco companies. 

Source: The Canadian Press, 24 September 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/4lh9z4