Smoking additives cause concern

Reuters

GUILTY CULPRIT: Researchers have found that lung cells exposed to cigarette smoke produce less of a certain type of protein, which could explain how smoking causes lung cancer.

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Smoking among teenagers in Northland is down compared to 10 years ago but smokefree campaigners are concerned tasty smoking additives are making the habit attractive again.

"Products like Tasty Puff make tobacco more attractive to young people who are experimenting with smoking, as it masks the taste of the cigarette with exotic flavours like Mango Tango, Joosy Froot and Crumpy Chocolate," says Northland District Health Board’s smokefree coordinator Bridget Rowse.

Tasty Puff is a legal tobacco additive which is sold in dairies and liquor outlets. It can be sold to people of any age and comes in the form of liquid drops which mask the taste of cigarettes.

"With most smokers taking up the habit at about 14 to 15 years of age, a product like this can enhance the flavour of what is normally not an enjoyable experience, making cigarettes attractive to young people when they otherwise would not," says Mrs Rowse.

A recent survey released by Action on Smoking and Health says the number of year 10 students smoking has reduced compared to 1999. In 2007 16.4 percent of Northland year 10 students surveyed said they smoke regularly compared to 29.2 percent in 1999.

Mrs Rowse is concerned this positive trend may be reversed if stores continue to sell these products.

"It would be a great thing if the retailers selling this product voluntarily withdrew it from the market," she says.

- © Fairfax NZ News