NNTPP LISTSERV
NNTPP is a program of the Health Education Council
Friday October 22, 2004
In this edition:
1) Smoking during
Pregnancy --- United States, 1990--2002
2)
African-American Menthol and
Non-Menthol Smokers: Differences in Smoking and Cessation Experiences
3) For Casino Smokers, Smoke
Study Underscores Hazard
4)
2005 National Conference on
Tobacco or Health – Call for Abstracts
5)
Upcoming Events
1) Smoking during Pregnancy ---
United States, 1990--2002
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy adversely affects the
health of both mother and child. The risk for adverse maternal conditions
(e.g., premature rupture of membranes, abruptio placentae, and placenta previa)
and poor pregnancy outcomes (e.g., neonatal mortality and stillbirth, preterm
delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome) is increased by maternal smoking (1--3). Infants born to mothers who smoke
weigh less than other infants, and low birth weight (<2,500 grams) is a key
predictor for infant mortality (1,2,4). Infertility and conception
delay also might be elevated by smoking (1).
National health objectives for 2010 target an increase in cessation to 30%
among pregnant smokers during the first trimester (objective 27-6) and
abstinence from cigarettes by 99% of women giving birth (objective 16-17) (5). To assess progress toward these goals,
CDC analyzed state-specific trends in maternal smoking during 1990--2002 by
using data collected on birth certificates. This report summarizes the results
of those analyses, which indicated that whereas participating areas observed a
significant decline in maternal smoking during the surveillance period, 10
states reported recent increases in smoking by pregnant teens. Although the
widespread public health message to abstain from smoking during pregnancy has
helped decrease maternal smoking, to reduce prevalence further, implementation
of additional interventions are required.
To read the full article please visit: http://www..cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5339a1.htm
2) African-American Menthol and
Non-Menthol Smokers: Differences in
Smoking and Cessation Experiences
Okuyemi KS, Ebersole-Robinson M, Nazir N, Ahluwalia JS.
J Natl Med Assoc. 2004 Sep;96(9):1208-11.
BACKGROUND:
Despite smoking fewer cigarettes per day, African Americans have lower
cessation rates and experience disproportionately higher rates of
smoking-related health consequences. Because of their high preference for
menthol cigarettes, it has been suggested that smoking menthol cigarettes may
contribute to the excess smoking-related morbidity experienced by African
Americans. Smoking menthol cigarettes could increase health risks from smoking
if smokers of menthol cigarettes have lower cessation rates and thereby have
longer duration of smoking compared to smokers of non-mentholated cigarettes.
Few studies have examined associations between smoking of mentholated
cigarettes and smoking cessation among African Americans. This study examined
the smoking patterns of menthol cigarette smokers and their smoking cessation
experiences. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 480 African-American
smokers at an inner-city health center. Survey examined sociodemographics,
smoking characteristics, and smoking cessation experiences of participants.
Menthol smokers (n = 407) were compared to non-menthol smokers (n = 73) in
these characteristics. RESULTS: Menthol smokers were younger and more
likely to smoke cigarettes with longer rod length, with filters, and those high
in nicotine and tar. Although both groups did not differ by number of past quit
attempts, time since most recent quit attempt was shorter for menthol smokers.
The durations of most recent and longest-ever quit attempts were non-significantly
shorter for menthol, compared to non-menthol smokers. CONCLUSIONS: These
data suggest that African-American menthol smokers are less successful with
smoking cessation. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and
examine mechanisms underlying such differences.
3) For Casino Smokers, Smoke Study
Underscores Hazard
By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer
10/17/2004
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- For
casino worker Joan Zarych, there's no escaping the smoke. It surrounds her
at work, it follows her home on her clothing, it aggravates the asthma she says
she got from working around cigarette-smoking gamblers for 20 years.
Whenever she gets a break, she hits the Boardwalk for a breath of fresh air.
But for much of her eight-hour shift as a table games supervisor,
she's stuck overseeing craps tables , roulette wheels
and blackjack tables where the smoke from cigars and cigarettes hovers
like an unwanted guest.
Zarych, 45, would like to quit her $50,000-a-year job, but she has two young
daughters to support. She can't. "When
I went to school to be a casino dealer, I didn't know it would damage my
health. No one said I'd have to put up with people blowing smoke in my face.
That wasn't part of the job description at all," Zarych said.
Zarych and other casino employees blame respiratory problems on their work
environment. A recent study underscored just how hazardous that environment can
be.
According to the study, published last month in the Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, the air in bars and casinos can have up to 50 times
more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways.
The study, by biophysicist James Repace, found that casino and bar workers are
exposed to particulate pollution at far greater levels than the government
allows outdoors.
To view the full article please visit: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--chokingonsmoking1017oct17,0,7817470.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire
4) 2005 National Conference on
Tobacco or Health – Call for Abstracts
May 4–6, 2005 • Chicago, IL
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstracts accepted online from October 1 through October
31, 2004 Submit your abstract online at www.tobaccocontrolconference.org.
The 2005 National Conference is looking for presentations
and workshops that will provide current scientific and practical information on
effective tobacco control strategies and developments. All abstracts must be
submitted online.
Visit www.tobaccocontrolconference.org to view the .pdf version
of the Call for Abstracts. To submit an abstract, visit www.tobaccocontrolconference.org
to link to the online abstract system.
Benefits to Presenters
- Your
ideas will be communicated at one of the largest national conferences on
tobacco control in the United States. Over 2,500 participants are
expected in Chicago.
- You
will pay the early registration fee for the conference, which is the
lowest fee.
- You and
your organization will gain recognition through your presentation, your
listing in the Program Book, and your listing in the online system of
abstracts.
If you have additional questions about submitting an
abstract, please check the Call for Abstracts section of www.tobaccocontrolconference.org
or send an e-mail to abstracts@tobaccocontrolconference.org.
Don’t forget to sign up for e-mail updates at www.tobaccocontrolconference.org.
5) Upcoming Events
132nd
American Public Health Association Conference
November 6-10, 2004 - Washington, DC
National Conference on Correctional Health Care
November 13-17, 2004 – New
Orleans, LA
19th National
Conference on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Health Disparities: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities
March
1-3, 2005 – Atlanta, GA
New England Regional Minority Health
Conference
April 10,11 and 12, 2005
Portland, Maine
Information:
michellesurdoval@yahoo.com
National Conference on Tobacco or
Health
May
4-6, 2005 – Chicago, IL
- Every
2nd Saturday
