Study: U.S. Cigarettes Have More Cancer Agents

[mikes]

Study: U.S. Cigarettes Have More Cancer Agents - CBS News

 

[Vocalek]

All of which is moot, unless CDC can show that American smokers develop cancer at a higher rate than Australian, Canadian, and UK smokers. Just because TSNA's might cause cancer doesn't mean they do cause cancer. Not all TSNAs are actually carcinogenic.

And that type of thinking is also what is wrong with the FDA's agenda for July 15-16 when they discuss menthol cigarettes. Look at their list of discussion points:

Characterization of menthol
1) Trends in quantities of menthol present in the cigarette rod and smoke over time for various brands/subbrands of menthol and nonmenthol products as determined by the Cambridge Filter/ISO test method using standard parameters as well as the intense smoking conditions set forth in Canadian regulations.
2) Information regarding the manufacturing of menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes, including a) the source and type of menthol used, b) the presence or use of any menthol analogs, and c) the types of manufacturing processes through which menthol is introduced into the tobacco product, as well as the considerations in selecting a particular method.
3) The threshold (menthol content) at which a product is identified and marketed as a menthol cigarette and how that threshold is established.
4) The rationale for adding menthol to cigarettes not marketed as menthol cigarettes, and the criteria for determining the quantity of menthol to be added.
5) For international brands of menthol cigarettes, the quantities of menthol in both menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes sold internationally, and the factors considered in determining the quantity of menthol to be added.
Clinical effects of menthol
6) Studies of dose-response relationships for the physiologic effects of mentholated tobacco smoke.
7) Mechanistic studies of menthol effects including, a) chemosensory effects of menthol compounds in tobacco smoke, including effects at thermal and trigeminal receptors, b) the effect of menthol on the neurobiology of tobacco dependence, and c) the effect of menthol on clinical and behavioral measures.
8) Studies addressing the dosing relationship and the metabolic interactions between nicotine and menthol, including resulting perceptions of nicotine strength and the interaction between menthol delivery and nicotine/tar levels, for both low-menthol and high-menthol products.
9) Information on correlations between menthol content and consumer perceptions
regarding a) taste, b) nicotine strength, and c) product harm.
Biomarkers
10) Analyses of laboratory and populations studies using biomarkers to assess the effect of menthol content on disease risk for cigarette smokers, based on cigarette consumption (e.g., cigarettes per day), including data related to menthol among population subgroups.
Marketing data
11) Data on consumer preferences for menthol cigarettes.
12) Consumer perception studies of advertising, packaging, and labeling of menthol cigarettes.
13) Marketing strategies for various brands/subbrands of menthol cigarettes, including strategies targeted to particular demographic groups.
14) Marketing strategies for various brands/subbrands of menthol cigarettes sold internationally.
Population effects
15) Among cigarette smokers, rates of switching from menthol to nonmenthol cigarettes and vice versa.
16) Comparative rates of initiation by youth and young adults with menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes.
17) Comparative rates of cessation for users of menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes.

http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/Calendar/ucm212396.htm

Wouldn't it be prudent to compare the rates of smoking-related disease and mortality rates for menthol versus non-menthol smokers? If you ask me, that's the only thing that really counts if the question is whether menthol is more hazardous than non-menthol. All of the above points are nothing more than window dressing.

When I Googled "cancer menthol" I discovered that menthol acutally inhibits the growth of melanoma, lung cancer rates are about equal for menthol versus non-menthol smokers, and menthol is unlikely to be an independent factor in throat cancer.

Gee if the folks at FDA would learn to use Google, they could save themselves thousands and thousands of dollars that they will be spending on this 2-day meeting to gather information that is not germane to the question.

 

[mpetva]

Gee if the folks at FDA would learn to use Google, they could save themselves thousands and thousands of dollars that they will be spending on this 2-day meeting to gather information that is not germane to the question.

They are afraid to Google themselves out of a job!