8.RP.1.2

__**Tobacco**__ Tobacco is a herbaceous plant who's leaves are harvested, cured, and rolled into cigars. Shredded for cigarettes and pipes and processed for chews or snuff. The tobacco industry is an influential force in many tropical areas. The primary tobacco source, for commercial use, is Nicotiana Tabacum. Chewing \or smoking has long been known as pleasurable but in the 20th century it was recognized as both harmful and addictive. Mainly from its nicotine contents and all of the other harmful chemicals inside. Tobacco consumption is generally highest in industrialized nations, but there has been a steady increase in cigarette use in developing countries. In 1984, for example, the exportation of cigarettes accounted for 8% of U.S. cigarette production, but in 1994 this figure was 30%. The growth of foreign sales may have resulted, at least in part, from efforts by U.S. Tobacco companies to find new markets. Tobacco is is a high value crop in world trade and in the United States. “It is produced in more then 100 countries” (Jaffe 13). Major tobacco producing nations include China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and Japan. Since 1940 most tobacco varieties have been under control of the U.S. Government. More then Sixty species of tobacco are grown in all parts of the world. Most tobacco products within the U.S. Contain artificial sweeteners, humectants, and flavorings to enhance their natural flavor and aroma. To make tobacco suitable for consuming it must aged and fermented. This preliminary process must be carefully managed because inadequate aging or fermentation cannot be corrected in the manufacturing process. Tobacco can be cured in many ways, they can be flue-cured, air-cured, and fire-cured.
 * Tobacco Smoke**

__**Tobacco and Health of the Human.**__ “Smoking refer to the inhalation of tobacco smoke”(Jaffe 1). Concerns regarding the dangers of tobacco have existed since smoking was introduced into the Western civilization. In the early 18th century medical writers purposed that pipe smoking caused cancer of the mouth and lips, but those who characterized smoking tobacco were perceived as puritanical or fanatical. By the 20th century smoking tobacco was so popular its adverse consequences were just about entirely absent from standard medical texts. “Throughout the 20th century numerous researchers provided proof that tobacco poses a threat of health” (Jaffe 36). Even then the evidence was ignored largely during the first few decades of the century. Later on the dangers of smoking began to accumulate. An American scientist established a link between smoking cigarettes and cancer. Around the same time various researchers stated that tar painted on the skin of mice produced cancers. This led to filter-tipped cigarettes. Reports linking tobacco and disease were appearing at an accelerating rate. WHO and other health organizations declared tobacco smoking to be the world's largest sing most cause of premature death. Health experts estimated that the death rate smokers three times larger than nonsmokers. Smoking can cause or amplify various cardiovascular diseases like coronary atherosclerosis. Smoking can also either contribute or cause Myocardial Infarction (heart attack). Another health effect caused by smoking tobacco is pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema). Smoking can also accelerate drug metabolism in the liver too, although its unclear which of the compound triggers this effect. Because of the accelerated metabolism humans who smoke may require 50% higher medication then normally needed in order to reach therapeutic levels.

__**Environmental Tobacco Smoke**__

Tobacco Smoke can be physically agonizing to nonsmokers but allergy to tobacco smoke is uncommon. Numerous studies have associated the risk of cancer in nonsmokers and demonstrated effects of passive smoke (second hand smoke). In 2006 ALA reported that 3,400 deaths from lung cancer came from second hand smoke and 22,000 to 69,000 deaths from heart diseases. Besides Nicotine, tobacco smoke contains more then 4,700 chemical compounds. Which include cancer-causing agents, industrial solvents, which can cause many diseases, and cardiac poisons. Tobacco smoke pollutes the air as second hand smoke. This contains radioactive compounds,cyanide, arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. These chemical compounds are harmful to humans and maybe even fatal. As of 2003 the number of teenagers who smoke have decreased. Anti-smoking campaigns, warnings on the boxes of cigarettes, and demands of smoke-free environment have also decreased the amount of smokers. European countries have also put anti-smoking legislation acts into use.Britain has required health warnings on cigarette packs since 1971; Italy bans smoking in many public areas; France prohibits all cigarette advertising and in 2007–08 banned smoking in all public buildings, including restaurants and bars. Even though there have been numerous injury suits against cigarette companies, no plaintiff was rewarded damages for injuries suffered after 1969. The year warning labels were first required on cigarette packs. The Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that smokers would be able to sue charging fraud if they could provide information that the tobacco company hid information about the hazards of smoking. The tobacco industry did not acknowledge a direct connection between the ingestion of tobacco smoke and the development of such ailments as lung cancer or cardiovascular disease until 1995. In the late 1990s states began suing the tobacco companies to be reimbursed for Medic Aid costs from tobacco smoking-related illnesses.

Work Cited: "Tobacco." //Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia.// Grolier Online, 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. Collins, W. K. "Tobacco." //The New Book of Knowledge.// Grolier Online, 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. Moore, E. L. "Tobacco." //Encyclopedia Americana.// Grolier Online, 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. Jaffe, Jerome H., and Murray E. Jarvik. "Smoking and Health." //Encyclopedia Americana.// Grolier Online, 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. Glantz, Stanton A. “Smoking.” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.