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Tobacco (Nicotiana spp., L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family indigenous to North and South America, or to the dried and cured leaves of such plants. Tobacco leaves are often smoked (see tobacco smoking) in the form of a cigar or cigarette, or in a smoking pipe, or in a water pipe or a hookah. Tobacco is also chewed, "dipped" (placed between the cheek and gum), and sniffed into the nose as finely powdered snuff. The Spanish word "tabaco" is thought to have its origin in Arawakan language, particularly, in the Taino language of the Caribbean, said to refer to a roll of these leaves (according to Bartolome de Las Casas, 1552) or to the "tabago", a kind of y-shaped pipe for sniffing tobacco smoke (according to Oviedo), but Sp. tabaco (also It. tobacco) was commonly used to define medicinal herbs from 1410, originating from the Arabic "tabbaq", reportedly since the 9th century, as the name of various herbs. The word might then be European, and later applied to this plant from the Americas.
Tobacco contains the alkaloid nicotine, a powerful neurotoxin that is particularly harmful to insects. All means of consuming tobacco result in the absorption of nicotine in varying amounts into the user's bloodstream, and over time the development of tolerance and dependence. Absorption quantity, frequency and speed seem to have a direct relationship with how strong a dependence and tolerance, if any, might be created. A lethal dose of nicotine is contained in as little as one half of a cigar or three cigarettes; however, only a fraction of the nicotine contained in these products is actually released into the smoke, and most clinically significant cases of nicotine poisoning are the result of concentrated forms of the compound used as insecticides. Other active alkaloids in tobacco include harmala alkaloids.
Tobacco smoking carries significant risks including the potential to develop various cancers as well as strokes, and severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. * Significantly shorter life expectancies have been associated with tobacco smoking. * Many jurisdictions have enacted smoking bans in an effort to minimize possible damage to public health caused by tobacco smoking. The substantially increased risk of developing cancer as a result of tobacco usage seems to be due to the plethora of nitrosamines and other carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco and its residue as a result of anaerobic heating, either due to smoking or to flue-curing or fire-curing. The use of flue-cured or fire-cured smokeless tobacco in lieu of smoked tobacco reduces the risk of respiratory cancers but still carries significant risk of oral cancer. * In contrast, use of steam-cured chewing tobacco (snus), avoids the carcinogenicity by not generating nitrosamines, but the negative effects of the nicotine on the cardiovascular system and pancreas are not ameliorated. *
More on [ Tobacco ]
CLIMATE COOL For tobacco states, a change is in the air: little joe boots Reporting from Arlingto.. http://bit.ly/8MBLWO
BCEastAsia (BritishCouncilE.Asia) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:20:14 -0000
CLIMATE COOL For tobacco states, a change is in the air: little joe boots Reporting from Arlingto.. http://bit.ly/8MBLWO
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: Should be a convenience store and not a government agency. #tcot
pir8gold (Patty A) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:19:47 -0000
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: Should be a convenience store and not a government agency. #tcot
For tobacco states, a change is in the air | World News http://bit.ly/7pOhPu
moongtraders (Moon Adnan) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:14:13 -0000
For tobacco states, a change is in the air | World News http://bit.ly/7pOhPu
Interesting Facts about Tobacco Smoking Revealed http://bit.ly/4ovECL (via @Phil_Calprino)
patricklilley (patricklilley) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:14:05 -0000
Interesting Facts about Tobacco Smoking Revealed http://bit.ly/4ovECL (via @Phil_Calprino)
RT @DevuPC: RT @Mrinal_01: Tobacco could be biofuel of future vehicles http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article74003.ece
TaiyouSun (Aditya Nandode) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:13:51 -0000
RT @DevuPC: RT @Mrinal_01: Tobacco could be biofuel of future vehicles http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article74003.ece
RT @Mrinal_01: Tobacco could be biofuel of future vehicles http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article74003.ece
DevuPC (Devu P Chodankar) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:12:46 -0000
RT @Mrinal_01: Tobacco could be biofuel of future vehicles http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article74003.ece
19 year old Sean Marsee's Tobacco Message - High school athlete Sean Marsee's experience with smokeless tobacco and snuff.
Meta Description: [ Smokeless tobacco addiction killed 19 year old Sean Marsee ]
Adbusters Culture Jammers Headquarters - Spoofs of ads, including some highly entertaining looks at cigarette advertising.
Meta Description: [ Adbusters Spoof Ads ]
American Dental Speciality Institute - Tobacco and Dental Health - How smoking can make your teeth fall out.
Meta Description: [ Painless dentistry performed in West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Specializes in periodontics (gum dentistry), endodontics (root canals and other root and pulp dentistry), implants, cosmetic gum surgeries, regenerative procedures, non-surgical therapy, genetic testing, and brush biopsy (f... ]
Blowing Smoke - Offers information by kids for kids to expose the exaggerated usage of tobacco in current movies.
Don't be a Dip - Information for kids about the effects of using spit (smokeless) tobacco.
Face the Faces - Started in response to a tobacco executive's statement that the people who die each year from tobacco are just computer-generated numbers, this site shows some of the people who are dead or dying of diseases caused by tobacco.
Fair Enough - Videos spoof sitcoms and the tobacco industry.
How Smoking Affects The Way You Look - ASH-UK factsheet covers how smoking affects the skin, body shape, and weight.
In the Mix - Smoking: The Truth Unfiltered - PBS show shows smoking damage to your health right now and in the near future, not just 40 years down the line.
Kids Against Tobacco Smoke - UK site features facts about cancer, nicotine and the effect of smoke, firsthand and secondhand, a chance to join the Kids Against Tobacco Smoking campaign, and a message board for kids.
Meta Description: [ Facts and games to help kids stop smoking. Learn about cancer, nicotine and the effect of smoke and join the Kids Against Tobacco Smoking campaign. ]
KIISS - Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke - Dedicated to eliminating kids' involuntary inhalation of secondhand smoke; features a Share A Story section.
Meta Description: [ Keeping Homes and Cars Smoke-Free for Kids ]
Maryland Teens Rejecting Abusive Smoking Habits (T.R.A.S.H.) - Statewide initiative comprised of youth coalitions that have taken a stand against tobacco use. Offers a list of events and opportunities to become involved.
Meta Description: [ Maryland T.R.A.S.H. (Teens Rejecting Abusive Smoking Habits) is a statewide initiative comprised of youth coaltions that have taken a stand against tobacco use. ]
Memos Highlight Importance Of 'Younger Adult Smokers' - Washington Post article summarizes what the tobacco industry says in its internal memos about getting kids to smoke.
Mind Over Matter - How Nicotine Affects the Brain - How nicotine acts on the brain, and why it's so addictive.
Meta Description: [ Mind Over Matter series examines the brain responses to nicotine ]
Peers Against Tobacco - For kids, by kids to educate about tobacco and its effects.
Phoenix Alliance - Tobacco information, ad contest, message board, events, and news; requires Flash.
Sick of Smoke - The facts, straight up, on smoking. No guilt-trips. No nagging. TV ads online.
Smoke-FX - Smoke-FX is a portal that helps youth make choices, take charge, and act locally on tobacco control issues. It features information, online activities and links to resources created by Ontario communities.
Meta Description: [ Smoke-FX is a portal that helps youth make choices, take charge, and act locally on tobacco control issues. It features information, online activities and links to resources created by Ontario communities. ]
Smokeless Tobacco - What it is, where it comes from, who chews, what it does to you, and quitting.
Meta Description: [ Chewing or dipping: These terms are familiar to the millions of teens who use smokeless tobacco. If you're ready to quit or you want to learn more about smokeless tobacco, read this article. ]
Smoking Stinks - Article explains why smoking and chewing are harmful.
Meta Description: [ Everyone says smoking is bad for you. Why? ]
Smoking: Don't Let It Steer You Wrong: Facts for Teens - What's in cigarettes, addiction, spit tobacco, reasons to quit, how to make quitting easier, and nicotine gum and patches.
stupid.ca - Forum for youth to share their thoughts and find out more about the tobacco industry and smoking.
Meta Description: [ The stupid.ca site exists to create a forum for youth to share their thoughts and find out more about the tobacco industry and smoking. ]
TASK - Kansas youth speaking out about big tobacco companies; news and information on how tobacco companies target teens, and how teens can fight back.
Teenage Girls as the Target of the Tobacco Industry - Factsheet from the American Lung Association. How the industry targets girls in its advertising and promotion; what results it has gotten.
Teens Take on Big Tobacco - In April 2003, 200 teens went to the belly of the beast to confront the CEO of tobacco giant Philip Morris; this is what happened, and how you can be a part of it in 2004.
Teenz247 - Smoke-free hangout offers games, message boards, local news for teens, and articles to help teenagers in making smart decisions about drugs, smoking, and alcohol.
Meta Description: [ Teenz247 Provides Exciting, Virtual Smoke-Free Hangout Winnebago County's newest teen venue will stay open around the clock, seven days a week. There is no dress code or cover charge and never any standing in line. Join us for free and play games, visit the message boards and talk to local teens,... ]
The Anti-Smoke - A 15-year-old urges people not to smoke and discusses the dangers of smoking.
The Badvertising Institute - Spoofs cigarette ads.
Meta Description: [ anti-smoking/tobacco advertising. ]
The Irreversible Health Effects of Cigarettes - Pamphlet available to download, from American Council on Science and Health. Quitting greatly reduces risks, but some effects of smoking are permanent.
Meta Description: [ irreversible, health, effects ]
The Smoking Handbook - A description of tobacco and the effects of smoking, written by kids for kids.
Meta Description: [ Information about tobacco and nicotine; cigarette smoking and the health consequences. Written and illustrated by Eastchester Middle School students for other students. ]
500
The Surgeon General's Report for Kids About Smoking - Provides basic facts about tobacco and smoking. Also includes a look at what kids are doing from coast to coast to promote a smoke-free environment.
The World's Fastest Clown: Kids Corner - Learn about the dangers of tobacco. Includes games, puzzles, coloring pages, and posters. [Requires Shockwave]
thetruth.com - Information on cigarettes, smoking, other tobacco products. HTML and Flash sections.
Meta Description: [ truth has one mission: spread information about the tobacco companies and their deadly, addictive products so people can make decisions about smoking based on the whole story - not just the one the industry's given us. ]
500
They're Rich, You're Dead - University of Miami School of Medicine's Tobacco Awareness Program for Community Youth. We want you to see what we see in our hospital patients every day from the use of tobacco. Uses RealPlayer for video.
Tobacco Explained: Marketing to Youth - Heavily documented from the tobacco industry's own internal memos, reports on how the industry promotes cigarettes and smoking to youth.
Meta Description: [ Tobacco Explained: 3. Marketing to children, ASH UK Paper ]
Tobacco No Way - Information on health and tobacco.
500
Tobacco Tips 4 Kids - Printable tip sheets on everything from the dangers of tobacco to kicking the habit. From the Center for Disease Control.
You and Me Smokefree - Health Canada site offering information about what's in cigarettes, facts and figures, and how to quit.
Meta Description: [ Main page for materials designed to inform youth about the health effects of smoking with links to related resources on second-hand smoke, quitting, labels and packaging, tobacco industry, youth involvement in tobacco control, and homework help ]
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