Tag: United Kingdom

  • Can cigarette butts take off?

    Can cigarette butts take off?

    Chemists at the UK’s University of Nottingham have discovered that carbons derived from cigarette butts have ultra-high surface areas and unprecedented hydrogen storage capacity, which could solve a major waste disposal problem while offering a way to store clean fuel, according to a story on physorg.com relayed by the TMA.

    Robert Mokaya, professor of materials chemistry, and Troy Scott Blankenship, an undergraduate project student, published their work in the academic journal Energy and Environmental Science.

    “We have utilised cigarette butt waste as starting material to prepare energy materials that offer unprecedented hydrogen storage properties,” said Mokaya.

    “This may not only address an intractable environmental pollution problem – cigarette butts – but also offers new insights into converting a major waste product into very attractive hydrogen storage materials.”

    Using hydrogen as a fuel is appealing because the only by-product when combined with oxygen is water.

    Mokaya said that this technique could be developed to replace, for example, gasoline as a transport fuel or natural gas as a heating fuel.

  • Report backs e-cigarettes

    Report backs e-cigarettes

    A group made up of members of the UK’s lower and upper houses of parliament have today urged the government to build upon Public Health England’s (PHE) ‘Stoptober’ anti-smoking campaign, which was the first of its kind to encourage the use of vaping as a means to quit smoking.

    In its report, The State of the Vaping Nation, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on E-Cigarettes has called on the government and public health bodies to sustain and capitalise on the level of public engagement with vaping seen during Stoptober by launching a continuous program to keep promoting and accurately communicating the positive public health evidence for vaping.

    Meanwhile, following the PHE campaign, which emerged from the government’s commitment in its recently published Tobacco Control Plan to back the promotion of the positive public health opportunity of vaping, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the largest trade body representing the sector, has reported that its members have experienced significant increases in sales during Stoptober.

    ‘In particular, the APPG has seen evidence from the UKVIA that there has been a considerable rise in starter-kit sales this Stoptober, suggesting a significant increase in those smokers trying vaping for the first time, according to a press note issued on behalf of the APPG

    ‘Watford-based Vape Club, the UK’s largest online vape e-liquid shop and JAC Vapour, a leading retailer, wholesaler and producer of vaping products, have experienced increases in starter kit sales by 37 percent and 65 percent year on year respectively.

    ‘Edinburgh based Vaporized, the UK’s largest vape retail chain, added three more stores to its now 106 store portfolio and experienced a 40 percent year on year rise in sales this October.’

    Mark Pawsey MP, chairman of the APPG, was quoted as saying that the positive public health message regarding vaping had up to now been failing to get across to the UK’s remaining 7.6 million smokers.

    “The Public Health England campaign was a welcome change and has had an obvious effect, but it needs to be sustained, not just a one off.

    “That’s why today we are calling upon the government to ensure such campaigns become the norm, not an exception, so that the UK can fully exploit the public health potential of vaping.

    “Without these campaigns the current mixed messages surrounding vaping will continue and create a confusing picture.”

    The report says that currently 20 percent of people correctly identify that vaping is ‘a lot less harmful’ than is smoking, down from 31 percent in 2015.

    In addition, the number of adults who believe that vaping is ‘as harmful’, or ‘more harmful’ than smoking has risen from seven percent in 2013 to 26 percent in 2017.

    “We are concerned that aspects of the [EU] Tobacco Products Directive work against helping people to stop smoking by making life for vapers more difficult … and by preventing positive messages being shared among those who have been frightened off vaping by a hostile propaganda war,” said Louise Ross, Stop Smoking Service Manager for Leicester City Council, the first Stop Smoking Service to go e-cigarette friendly.

    The parliamentarians believe misinformation is actively preventing smokers from making the decision to switch to vaping. The number of UK vapers increased by four percent from 2016 to 2017.

  • Enough is enough

    Enough is enough

    The people of the UK are overwhelmingly opposed to a ban on smoking at home, according to a new poll published yesterday.

    The survey, conducted by Populus for the smokers’ group Forest, found that 76 percent of adults were in favor of people being allowed to smoke in their own homes, while 20 percent were against.

    The online poll of 2,101 adults was commissioned after anti-smoking campaigners called for a debate about smoking in the home. “As a nation, I think we need to have a debate on why we currently think it acceptable to expose non-smokers, including children, to second-hand tobacco smoke within indoor spaces,” Dr. Sean Semple, an academic at Aberdeen University, told the Sunday Times Scotland earlier this month. “I think that debate needs to include smoking in the home.”

    The Times reported also that the chief executive of the anti-smoking group ASH Scotland was seeking a meeting with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to discuss the possibility of a smoking ban.

    In May, it was reported that council housing tenants in England could be banned from smoking in their own homes under new rules being considered by some councils. “Housing associations and councils are looking at smoke-free housing buildings,” Professor John Middleton, president of the Faculty of Public Health, told the Times. “Where children are involved I think there is a real case for it.”

    But Simon Clark (pictured), director of Forest, said the poll was a reminder that most people didn’t support an extreme anti-smoking agenda.

    “The public understands that punishing adults for smoking in their own home would represent a gross invasion of privacy,” he said.

    “They know too that a ban could only be enforced if neighbours and family members were encouraged to report one another. For most people that’s a deeply disturbing prospect.”

    Clark dismissed claims that anti-smoking groups did not support a ban on smoking at home.

    “I’ve no doubt at all that one of the long-term goals of the tobacco control industry is a ban on smoking in the home, starting with social housing,” he said.

    “Prohibition is part of their DNA. The only way they can hope to achieve their ambition of a smoke free world is to persecute smokers into submission.”

  • E-cig consultation launched

    The Science and Technology Committee of the UK Parliament has launched a public consultation to ‘examine the impact of electronic cigarettes on human health (including their effectiveness as a stop-smoking tool), the suitability of regulations guiding their use, and the financial implications of a growing market on both business and the NHS’, according to a Bloomberg News story relayed by the TMA, and a report by Sarah Knapton for telegraph.co.uk.

    The chair of the committee, Norman Lamb MP, said that almost three million people in the UK now used e-cigarettes, but that there were still significant gaps in the research guiding their regulation and sale.

    “They are seen by some as valuable tools that will reduce the number of people smoking ‘conventional’ cigarettes, and seen by others as ‘re-normalising’ smoking for the younger generation,” Lamb said.

    “We want to understand where the gaps are in the evidence base, the impact of the regulations, and the implications of this growing industry on NHS costs and the UK’s public finances.”

    Written submissions will be accepted until December 8.

  • A glowing example

    A glowing example

    British American Tobacco says that toxicant levels in vapor from its heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco product, glo™, have been found to be about 90 percent lower than the levels in traditional-cigarette smoke.

    In heating rather than burning tobacco, glo operated at much lower temperatures than did a cigarette: about 240̊C versus 900̊C, BAT said in a press note issued to coincide with the publication in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology of the results of a BAT study.

    “Our studies on glo reveal that this product produces significantly lower levels of harmful or potentially harmful components compared to a cigarette,” Dr. James Murphy, head of reduced risk substantiation at BAT was quoted as saying. “The vapor produced was found to have significantly reduced numbers and lower levels of toxicants compared to cigarette smoke, and so it should in principle expose consumers to much less toxicants,” he says.

    ‘It is the toxicants in smoke that cause most smoking-related diseases,’ said BAT in its note.

    ‘Scientists at British American Tobacco analysed and compared the vapor from glo™ – a commercially available tobacco heating product (THP) – and smoke from a reference cigarette (3R4F) and found substantial reductions in the glo™ emissions for all smoke toxicant groups measured. Most cigarette smoke toxicants could not be detected in the glo™ vapor.’

    “This comprehensive chemical assessment is part of a science-based approach that we have developed to demonstrate the reduced-risk potential of THPs and other next generation products relative to smoking cigarettes,” said Murphy. “We believe that such an approach is essential to communicating to consumers and regulators that the available information on our products is based on sound, evidence-based science.”

    ‘The scientists set out to measure 126 substances, including toxicants that have been identified by Health Canada, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) as harmful or potentially harmful to health, and other compounds produced by burning tobacco,’ the note said.

    ‘A smoking robot was used to generate smoke or vapor in the laboratory in a way that mimics realistic use of the products. Air samples were also produced with which to compare the smoke and vapor.

    ‘An analysis of the emissions showed that glo™ produces a much simpler aerosol than cigarettes.  glo™ emitted over 95 percent less, on average, of 102 of 126 compounds that could be measured, compared to smoke. For the nine toxicants that the WHO proposes for lowering in cigarette smoke, the overall average reduction was 97.1 percent, while for the 18 requiring mandatory reporting by the FDA, it was 97.5 percent.  Twenty-four substances could not be detected/quantified in the glo™ emissions, smoke or both.

    ‘The findings add to a body of evidence that could be used to support glo™ as a potential reduced-risk product compared to conventional cigarettes.’

  • Vaping-kit sales boosted

    Vaping-kit sales boosted

    Sales of vaping starter kits in the UK rose by 37 percent year-on-year after vaping featured prominently in the National Health Service’s (NHS) Stoptober campaign, according to a story by Liz Wells for Talking Retail, quoting a leading retailer.

    This year, for the first time, electronic cigarettes are being featured in the NHS’ campaign, which challenges smokers to give up cigarettes for 28 days during the month of October.

    “It’s fantastic to see the NHS finally backing vaping as a pathway to quit smoking,” Dan Marchant, director of online retailer Vape Club, was quoted as saying.

    “The industry has been backing this alternative for a long time, but with the evidence provided by Public Health England, endorsements from the likes of Cancer Research UK and the figures which are produced by Action on Smoking and Health, there can be no doubt that vaping is the most effective method to give up tobacco.

    “The NHS advocating vaping as an alternative to tobacco is an enormous breakthrough and will do an outstanding amount of good for public health and tobacco control in the UK.”

  • Tobacco tax over-inflated

    Tobacco tax over-inflated

    Echoing back a phrase made famous by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, campaigners in the UK are urging the Chancellor to help consumers who are “just about managing” by rejecting a second increase in tobacco duty this year.

    According to the smokers’ group Forest, tobacco duty costs those with low incomes a far larger proportion of their income than it does those on higher incomes, and further hikes, it says, would only exacerbate this unfairness.

    ‘Measuring expenditure on tobacco duty as a percentage of disposable income, in 2015/16 tobacco duty cost the average household in the lowest-income bracket almost eight times what it cost the average highest-earning household,’ Forest said in a press note issued today.

    ‘Although the average household among middle-earners spent 38 per cent more on tobacco duty than the poorest households; as a percentage of disposable income the poorer households were still worse off.’

    Tobacco duty, says Forest, costs the poorest households 2.3 percent of their disposable incomes compared to 0.3 percent in the wealthiest households.

    “Tobacco duty is a regressive tax because it hurts low income households more than the average household and far more than the wealthiest households,” said Simon Clark, director of Forest.

    “In order to help those who, in Theresa May’s words, are ‘just about managing’, we urge the Chancellor to resist the temptation to increase tobacco duty for a second time this year.”

    Meanwhile, Forest claims that the use of a ‘flawed’ measure of inflation has cost smokers an additional £1.35 billion in tobacco duty since 2010.

    According to the group, the practise of increasing tobacco duty using the retail price index (RPI) rather than the consumer price index (CPI), which experts believe is a more accurate measurement of inflation, has resulted in smokers being unfairly overtaxed.

    The duty escalator, which was reintroduced in 2010, increased the price of tobacco every year by inflation plus two per cent. Inflation, says Forest, was calculated using the RPI not the CPI. This, says the group, has resulted in smokers paying even more duty than they should reasonably have been expected to pay.

    Forest estimates that smokers were overtaxed by almost £46 million in 2010/11, rising to £252 million in 2016/17. The forecast for 2017/18 is almost £310 million which means smokers will have been overtaxed by more than £1.35 billion since 2010.

    “Smokers have been punished enough for their habit,” said Clark. “Tobacco duty is already scandalously high without the Chancellor using a flawed measure of inflation to extract even more money from the pockets of law-abiding consumers.”

  • Survey supports e-cigs

    A survey carried out in the UK has revealed that ex-smokers say switching to vaping is the most effective way to give up.

    The research, involving 7,464 former smokers and commissioned by British American Tobacco on behalf of its electronic-cigarette brand Vype, showed that from their own experiences of giving up, 33 percent of former smokers found that using e-cigarettes was the most effective method.

    ‘However, the research found that there is still a lack of public awareness around e-cigarettes,’ BAT said in a press note. ‘Amongst the smokers surveyed, only 52 percent said they viewed vaping as less harmful than smoking. And only a quarter of the general public said they would recommend vaping products to a smoker looking to quit.’

    Last month, Public Health England announced that its annual Stoptober campaign would, for the first time, back e-cigarettes.

    In 2015 the agency published an independent review on e-cigarettes in which it concluded that, based on best estimates, the use of these devices was about 95 percent less harmful than is smoking.

    Today’s latest research supports many publicly-available studies, including one from the British Psychological Society indicating that vaping might provide support or an alternative for smokers who want to quit smoking.

    “We welcome the news that for the first time the government is backing vaping in its Stoptober campaign especially given that independent organisations, such as Public Health England, have previously stated that e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes,” said Nigel Hardy, head of the UK Vaping Business at BAT.

    “For many years we have highlighted that vaping can be an alternative to smoking which is why we have, and continue to, invest heavily in innovative next generation products. With our Vype e-cigarette brand, we are leading the vapor market in the UK, offering consumers a range of the highest quality products.

    “However, our research shows there is a knowledge gap which could be holding back the chances of more people stopping smoking. We need better consumer education on this topic and call on the UK government to consider some of the restrictions on e-cigarette advertising. Appropriate marketing can help to ensure smokers have more visibility of vaping products as an alternative to smoking.”

    Further findings from the study were said to include:

    • 61 percent of the general public believe vaping is socially acceptable, but this rises to 68 percent amongst 18-to-34-year-olds.
    • When asked about Stoptober 2017, 26 percent of smokers who were aware of the campaign said they planned to try and quit. 34 percent of smokers were intending to use, or were aware of others planning to use, e-cigarettes to try and quit as part of the campaign. This was higher than for other nicotine products such as nicotine patches, nicotine chewing gum and nicotine inhalers.
    • When asked about Stoptober 2017, 47 percent of smokers recalled the message that “stop smoking for 28 days and you are five times more likely to quit for good”; 11 percent recalled the message that e-cigarettes were a great way to combat nicotine cravings; nine percent recalled the message that the NHS supports e-cigs as a way to stop; and eight percent recalled that they carried a fraction of the risk of smoking.
  • UK GPs endorse e-cigs

    UK GPs endorse e-cigs

    Smoking cessation is one of general practice’s most effective interventions in the battle against cancer, and electronic cigarettes could be a crucial weapon in the GP’s arsenal, according to a story by David Millett for GPonline.com quoting experts at the annual conference of the UK’s Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

    All evidence pointed to e-cigarettes being an effective tool in helping smokers to quit, experts told the conference held in Liverpool on October 12-14, but only if they were coupled with specialist support and complete cessation of tobacco use.

    In a session on cancer care in general practice, GPs said smoking cessation was one of the most cost-effective ways GPs could help prevent cancer.

    Dr Linda Bauld, a professor of health policy at the University of Stirling, said that the current consensus favored use of e-cigarettes as a quitting aid.

    And evidence suggested they were used almost entirely by ex-smokers and current smokers, and by only very small numbers of never smokers, implying they do not act as a gateway to tobacco use.

    “The crucial message is that e-cigarettes are hugely safer than tobacco – but patients won’t realise any health benefits unless they switch entirely to vaping and stop smoking cigarettes completely,” she said.

    “We should see very encouraging results for smoking cessation. If used every day and with high concentration, these products can help people move away from smoking.”

  • Further support for e-cigs

    Further support for e-cigs

    Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has welcomed a report by the British Psychological Society (BPS) that yesterday urged wider promotion of electronic cigarettes as a method of stopping smoking.

    “We welcome this report setting out the role e-cigarettes can play in reducing the harm from smoking,” said Hazel Cheeseman, ASH’s director of policy, in a statement posted on the organization’s website.

    “Many smokers have found e-cigarettes helpful in quitting but confusion persists among some about the relative safety of vaping compared to smoking. 2.9 million adults in England currently use electronic cigarettes, over half have already quit smoking and many of the rest are actively seeking to do so.

    “Evidence shows that the most effective way to quit smoking is through a combination of professional face-to-face-support and stop-smoking aids.

    “What health professionals tell smokers about e-cigarettes is important to ensure that smokers have an accurate view of what switching to vaping might mean.

    “It is hoped that if smokers are better informed this will help more to successfully quit tobacco for good.”