The Impact On Tobacco Control Work Of The "Lowering Tar And Reducing Harm Of Tobacco" Action Taken By China's Tobacco Companies

ObjectivesIn this paper,research literatures from 1979 to 2008 about "lowering tar and reducing harm of tobacco" had been collected from www.cnki.net,www.cqvip.com, www.wanfangdata.com.cn and www.tobaccoinfo.com.cn,to analyze the "lowering tar and reducing harm" technology,cigarette testing methods and evaluation criteria in China's tobacco institution,combined with the research findings of "low tar" cigarette-related disease risks in foreign countries to look for evidence that "low tar" does not mean "low hazard",and further clarify the tobacco institution's "lowering tar and reducing harm" action does not really reduce the hazard of smoking,but to promote cigarette products covertly.Method:The 1297 papers searched online are divided into two parts:one includes the research literatures on "lowering tar and reducing harm" published on the Academic Journal in Chinese from 1979 to 2008,obtained with the keywords of"lowering tar and reducing harm of tobacco","low hazard and cigarettes","low tar and cigarettes" and "harm reduction and cigarettes" from www.cnki.net,www.cqvip.com,www.wanfangdata.com.cn;the other contains all the literatures related to "lowering tar and reducing harm of tobacco" from www.tobaccoinfo.com.cn.Based on the study of the amount,type,content of those literatures, the analysis on technology of "lowering tar and reducing harm of tobacco",cigarette testing methods and evaluation criteria in China's tobacco institution can be made.Results:The domestic technologies of tobacco harm reduction are mainly filter technology, leaves group additives,paper plate porosity,tobacco density,flavoring feeding,and formula, with the research focus on composite filter,leaf group additives.It has been found that the "low tar" cigarettes cannot reduce the hazards of smoking.Instead,the smoker can inhale equal amount of tar and nicotine by compensating action.There are many harmful substances which interact with each other complicatedly.The so-called "lowering tar" technology cannot eliminate all the harmful substances.In addition,during the application of the technology to reduce several harmful substances,other harmful substances might be increased.Hence there is no definite research result related to the exact extent of the harm been reduced,how to reduce the harm and whether the additives will produce harmful substances.ConclusionsKnowing that the "low-tar cigarettes are not safe",Tobacco companies still invest large amount of money into "harm reduction" research to improve the tobacco processing technique and lower tar,aiming to enlarge the market of cigarette products and promote cigarettes sales volume in the name of "reducing harm and lowering tar of cigarette",which could mislead consumers into more expensive cigarettes consumption,reduce smoke cessation,and increase relapse rate and smoking rates.Therefore,tobacco components control,objective scientific testing and evaluation of the harmfulness of the cigarettes that had been reduced harm should be strengthened.The harmful substances and additives should be made known to government and the public.Relevant laws and regulations should be established to forbid promotional activities of any kinds rely on the "lowering tar and reducing harm of tobacco".Health education,especially on adolescents,should be enhanced.The content of health education should mention that there is no kind of safe cigarette,"low tar" and "reducing harm" are not equal to "low harm","lowering tar and reducing harm of tobacco" technology cannot actually reduce the harm of smoking,there is no kind of safe cigarette,never try to smoke or give up smoking cessation.