A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04
An Introduction To The Health Effects of Nicotine
A Small Dose of Nicotine
Mayan priest in Central America, 1000 B.C.
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
N
CH3N
What Is This?
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
N
CH3N
Nicotine
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Question
Have you every tried nicotine?
What were the immediate effects?
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
2,000 years ago (maybe 6,000) - natives of the Americas used tobacco as a medicine, in religious ceremonies, and as offerings to spirits.
1492 - Christopher Columbus introduce tobacco and nicotine to Spain
Historical Awareness
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
1612 - British colony at Jamestown, Virginia, exporting tobacco to England – became an essential source of money
1700-1800’s - Farms used slaves to cultivate tobacco
Historical Awareness
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
1614 – Cigarettes were invented by beggars in Seville, Spain (from scrap of cigars)
1763 – Nicotine used as an insecticide
1828 – Nicotine isolated from tobacco leaves
1850s – Cigarettes increased in popularity
1880 – Machine to roll cigarettes patented (10,000 per hour) – cigarettes get cheaper
Historical Events
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Quote - Quitting
“To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I
ought to know, I've done it a thousand times."
Mark Twain
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh popularized pipe smoking in England. He was beheaded on October 28, 1618 but before his head dropped he requested to smoke a final bowl full of tobacco.
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
1964 – U.S. surgeon general linked cigarette smoking with lung cancer and coronary artery disease.
1996? – FDA finds that nicotine is addictive
1999? – US Supreme Court rules that FDA can not regulate nicotine
2000? – Tobacco companies required to pay billions to compensate for health effects
2000 – World wide tobacco consumption continues to increase
Modern Events
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Tobacco CEOs
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Nicotine in a cigarette – 8 to 10 mg
Smoking – delivers about 1 mg to the smoker
Technique of smoker can increase nicotine (time smoke is in lungs, rapid puffing)
Smoking
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Lung (nicotine enters brain in 7 seconds)
Skin (slower absorption, more constant blood levels)
Stomach poor (nicotine is strong base – stomach is acid)
Intestine better
Nicotine Absorption
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Acute nicotine exposure(From – insecticide sprays or tobacco)
Nausea, vomiting, salivation, diarrhea, dizziness, mental confusion, weakness
Fatal exposure (60 mg fatal for adult)
Decreased blood pressure, difficulty breathing, irregular pulse, convulsions, respiratory failure and death
Acute Adverse Effects
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Fetal Effects
Chronic nicotine exposure to developing fetus Decreased birth weight Attention deficit disorder Cognitive impairment
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Withdrawal Effects
Restlessness Anxiety, hostility Irritability, impatience Difficulty concentrating Increased appetite
(weight gain) Depression
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Cotinine - Major metabolite Lung – First site of metabolism Liver – Major site Half-life – about 2 hours
Metabolism
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Nicotine and metabolites Primarily in urine Breast milk (heavy smoker
0.5 mg per liter of milk (infant is small = large dose)
Insurance companies look for cotinine (longer half-life)
Excretion
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Low dose – Stimulation Binds nicotinic receptors (cholinergic)
High dose – Blocks receptors
Mechanism Of Action
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Mechanism Of Action
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Nicotine as Insecticide
Mimics the action of acetylcholine Muscle tremor Convulsions Death (respiratory paralysis)
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Don’t use tobacco Handle nicotine
insecticides carefully
Reducing Exposure
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Addiction to nicotine Gum recession Sores in the mouth Cancer of the mouth Increased blood pressure Heart disease Ulcers Generally not good
Smokeless Tobacco & Health
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
In the U.S. Sales - 112.2 million
pounds sold in 2001 Revenues - $2.13 billion
in 2001 Advertising $236.7 million
in 2001U.S. Federal Trade Commission – Smokeless Tobacco Report
for the years 2000 to 2001
Smokeless Tobacco & Money
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
March 22, 2000The United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot regulate tobacco products.
Regulatory Status
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Nicotine is toxic and addictive
Don’t Start
Summary
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
A Small Dose of Nicotine
Questions or Comments?
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Additional Information
Web Sites• World Health Organization (WHO). Online.
<http://www.who.int/health_topics/tobacco/en/> (accessed: 2 April 2003).
Covers tobacco and international efforts to track and reduce use of tobacco.
• Health Canada - Tobacco (CDC). Online. <http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/tobacco/index.html> (accessed: 9 April 2003).
Heath Canada information on the health effects of tobacco.
A Small Dose of Nicotine – 2/23/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Authorship Information
For Additional Information ContactSteven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT
E-mail: [email protected]: www.asmalldoseof.org
This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology”