Showing papers in "Tobacco regulatory science in 2021"

Young Adult E-cigarette Use and Retail Exposure in 6 US Metropolitan Areas.

Abstract: Objectives Given the need to understand e-cigarette retail and its impact, we examined sociodemographic, tobacco and marijuana use, and e-cigarette retail experiences as correlates of (1) past 30-day e-cigarette use, (2) past 30-day advertising/media exposure, and (3) point-of-sale age verification among young adults. Methods We analyzed baseline survey data (September-December, 2018) among 3006 young adults (ages 18-34) in 6 metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Diego, Seattle) in a 2-year longitudinal study. Results In this sample (Mage = 24.6, 42.3% male, 71.6% white, 11.4% Hispanic), 37.7% (N = 1133) were past 30-day e-cigarette users; 68.6% (N = 2062; non-users: 66.0%, users: 72.9%) reported past 30-day e-cigarette-related advertising/media exposure. Among e-cigarette users, vape shops were the most common source of e-cigarettes (44.7%) followed by online (18.2%). Among users, 34.2% were "almost always" asked for age verification. In multilevel logistic regression, e-cigarette use and advertising/media exposure were correlated (and both correlated with being younger). E-cigarette use also correlated with other tobacco product and marijuana use (and being male and white). Infrequent age verification correlated with commonly purchasing e-cigarettes online (and being older and black). Conclusions Increased efforts are needed to reduce young adult advertising/media exposure and increase retailer compliance among retailers, particularly online and vape shops.

Longitudinal Uses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study

Abstract: Objectives The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study is a nationally representative study of the US population on tobacco use and its effects on health, with 3 waves of data collection between 2013 and 2016. Prior work described the methods of the first wave. In this paper, we describe the methods of the subsequent 2 waves and provide recommendations for how to conduct longitudinal analyses of PATH Study data. Methods We use standard survey quality metrics to evaluate the results of the follow-up waves of the PATH Study. The recommendations and examples of longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of PATH Study data follow a design-based statistical inference framework. Results The quality metrics indicate that the PATH Study sample of approximately 40,000 continuing respondents remains representative of its target population. Depending on the intended analysis, different survey weights may be appropriate. Conclusion The PATH Study data are a valuable resource for regulatory scientists interested in longitudinal analysis of tobacco use and its effects on health. The availability of multiple sets of specialized survey weights enables researchers to target a wide range of tobacco-related analytic questions.

No Butts on the Beach: Aquatic Toxicity of Cigarette Butt Leachate Chemicals.

Abstract: Objectives Toxic pollutants leaching from littered cigarette butts (CB) raise environmental impact concerns. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required to assess the environmental impacts of its tobacco regulatory actions per the US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Methods We determined the chemical constituents in CB leachate through analyses of 109 field-collected CB and literature compilation and characterized their ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms. Results One-third of the 98 identified CB leachate chemicals were very toxic and 10% were toxic to aquatic organisms due to acute and chronic toxicity. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, phthalates, nicotine and volatile organic compounds were the most hazardous CB leachate chemicals for aquatic organisms. Of the 98 CB leachate chemicals, 25 are included in FDA's list of harmful or potentially harmful constituents in tobacco products and tobacco smoke. Conclusions Our study quantifies CB leachate constituents, characterizes their ecological hazard and identifies chemicals of concern. Thus, it aids in evaluating the environmental impacts of tobacco products per NEPA requirements. These results provide important information for strategies to prevent and reduce CB litter (eg, awareness programs, litter laws enforcement), thereby reducing environmental hazards from CB toxicants.

Hand Nicotine and Cotinine In Children Exposed to Cigars: A Pilot Study.

Abstract: Objectives Past research has not examined secondhand and thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure in children of cigar smokers. We examined hand nicotine and cotinine levels in children of cigar smokers to explore the contribution of cigar smoke to tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). Methods Participants were children (N = 24; mean (SD) age = 6.5 (3.6) years) whose parents smoked cigars only or poly-used cigars and/or cigarettes. Primary outcomes were hand nicotine and urinary cotinine levels. Results All children had detectable hand nicotine (range: 7.6-312.5ng/wipe) and cotinine (range: 0.3-100.3ng/ml). Positive correlations were found between hand nicotine and cotinine (r = 0.693, p = .001), hand nicotine and parents who also smoked cigarettes (r = 0.407, p = .048), and hand nicotine and number of smokers around the child (r = 0.436, p = .03). Hand nicotine (r = -0.464, p = .02), but not cotinine (r = -0.266, p = .26), was negatively correlated with child age. Multiple regression results indicated a positive association between hand nicotine and cotinine (p = .002; semi-partial r2 = 0.415), irrespective of child age. Conclusions The significant association of hand nicotine with urinary cotinine suggests that THS pollution should be assessed in evaluating children's overall TSE to cigars and other tobacco products, and hand nicotine may be a proxy for overall TSE. Younger children may have increased THS pollutant uptake.

Modeling the Population Health Impacts of Heated Tobacco Products in Japan

Abstract: Objective: We evaluated the potential population health impact of launching heated tobacco products (HTP) in Japan. Method: We use a modeling approach to project the effects of HTP use in overall mortality up to 2100 and compare those projections against a baseline scenario based on smoking rates pre-HTP launch, ie, smoking only. The model was informed using data from publicly available sources and the literature, including population size, yearly deaths, and smoking prevalence with the initial year of 2004, and births and migration from 2004 to 2065. Transitions between products were estimated from cross-sectional population surveys in Japan. Result: In a worst-case scenario, population health gains would be seen with HTPs risk about 50% lower risk than smoking. Assuming equal risk for dual use and smoking, HTP risk would need to be at least 10% lower than smoking to achieve a population health benefit by 2100. Potential reduction in life-years lost with the introduction of HTPs was 13 million by 2100 compared with smoking only. Conclusions: In credible scenarios, substantial population harm reduction will follow the introduction of HTPs in Japan.

Effects of Visual Exposure to IQOS Use on Smoking Urge and Behavior.

Abstract: Objectives In this study, we examined whether visual exposure to the heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS, which was authorized for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019, acts as a cue to increase cigarette craving and smoking behavior among smokers. Methods Young adult smokers (N = 105) were randomly assigned to view a video depicting use of either IQOS or bottled water. Main outcomes were changes in cigarette and e-cigarette desire and latency to smoke between the groups. We also examined participants' attitudes about the actors using IQOS and drinking water in the videos. Results Exposure to the use of IQOS acutely increased observers' ratings of smoking urge and desire for a cigarette and an e-cigarette. The IQOS cue, compared with the water cue, also produced a marginally significant shorter latency to smoke. Participants perceived actors as less likeable and friendly when using IQOS than when drinking water. Conclusions Results showed that exposure to IQOS produced smoking urge and behavior in young adult smokers, implicating IQOS use as a smoking and vaping cue. As HTPs gain popularity, product impact on passive observers should be included in their risk-benefit profile.

E-cigarette Solvent Ratio and Device Power Influence Ambient Air Particulate Matter.

Abstract: Objectives Electronic cigarette (ECIG)-generated aerosol contains particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). Particles of this size may be injurious to the health of those who inhale them. Few studies have assessed the relationship between ECIG aerosol PM2.5 and ECIG liquid ingredients or ECIG device power. Methods Two studies were conducted in which participants generated aerosols with ECIGs: in one, ECIG liquids contained various vegetable glycerin/propylene glycol ratios and in the other, ECIG devices varied by electrical power output. Results Results indicate that, in general, PM2.5 increases as the ratio of vegetable glycerin to propylene glycol increases, or as device power increases. Conclusions Regulating ECIG PM2.5 emissions to protect non-users requires an understanding of all the factors that influence these emissions.

Tweets About Acute Nicotine Toxicity Due to e-Liquid Exposure.

Abstract: Objectives Intentional and unintentional exposures to electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) e-liquids can cause illness and death. In this study, we describe acute nicotine toxicity due to e-liquid exposure (ANTEE) information found on Twitter and contextualize ANTEE experiences to clarify conditions associated with exposure. Methods We obtained 20,180 ANTEE-relevant tweets from 2013-2018. We excluded retweets, suspected bots, non-English tweets, tweets not originating in the US, and advertisements. We coded relevant tweets qualitatively using domains for e-liquid exposure tweets and e-liquid-related non-exposure tweets (ie, posts reflecting hypothetical exposure, information about e-liquids). Results Content analyses were based on 1656 e-liquid exposure tweets and 1210 non-exposure tweets. More than half of exposure tweets (61.3%) were classified as accidental exposures; subjects were predominately young people, assumed to be under age 18 (40.5%), and self (27.7%). The most common exposure route was ingestion (61.1%). Of exposure tweets, 13.9% described health effects and 12.7% described seeking assistance. Most non-exposure tweets were classified as likely or hypothetical exposure (49.9%) or presentation of advice, information, or warnings (40.5%). Conclusions Tweets can serve as a novel and complementary data source for learning more about e-liquid exposures.