Tobacco Flashcards
To which plant family does the tobaco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) belong?
The solanaceae family (tomato, pepper, etc.)
What fitness advantage does nicotine production provide for the plant?
It acts as a natural insecticide.
How does nicotine affect humans? What about insects? What kind of biomolecule is it?
An alkaloid with neurophysiological stimulating effects in both humans and insects.
What are some reasons why smoking could be considered a positive habit?
- Socially complex
- Many marketable forms
- Hunger suppressant
What are 5 reasons why smoking could be considered a negative habit?
- Increased risk of cancer
- Negative effect of circulation
- Costs of smoking borne by non-smokers
- Secondhand smoke effects
- Smells bad and gives terrible breath
What are the 4 main marketable forms of tobacco in order of invention?
- Pipe tobacco
- Snuff tobacco
- Cigarettes/cigars
- Chewing tobacco
How does tobacco act as a hunger suppressant?
By inhibiting lipoprotein lipases responsible for fat production.
What colonial nation is responsible for developing the various forms of marketable tobacco?
The Dutch.
What is considered to be the largest cash crop in the world?
Tobacco.
How many people are employed by the tobacco industry?
~ 100 million people.
What makes tobacco a more efficient cash crop than coffee or others?
Occupies a smaller portion of arable land.
Where in the world is the prevalence of smoking still on the rise? Is this a worldwide trend?
Africa and the Middle East. Worldwide trend because large increase in these areas offsets reduction in others.
How many smokers are there estimated to be in the world?
~1 billion.
What percentage of adults smoked in 1960? What about today?
1960: 65% of adults smoked
Today: <17% of adults smoke
How many cigarettes are consumed by the average smoker per year?
5000.
How does the government take advantage of the tobacco industry?
It takes a large portion of tobacco sales as a source of tax revenue (“sin tax”).
What are the 2 types of taxes? How much return does the government get for each?
- Manufacturing tax ($)
2. Consumer tax ($$$)
How are taxes on cigarettes avoided? What percentage of the world’s cigarettes does this apply to?
Smuggling, ~10% of the world’s cigarettes are distributed this way.
What percentage of New York city’s cigarettes had been smuggled in 2018?
~50%!
Describe “Tobacco road”. Why did this come to be?
A smuggling network which spreads cigarettes from the US South to the US East coast. Arose because taxes on cigarettes in N Carolina and Virginia are $0.45 and $0.35 (producers), while taxes in New York are $5.85…
What is meant by “butt-legging”?
Bootlegging, but for tobacco (obviously). Running goods against a tax gradient.
What is the Jay treaty and what does it allow?
Gives Iroquois federation freedom of movement across the US-Canada border. Allows smuggling of cigarettes from reserves in New York state to Brantford (Ontario) for distribution throughout the Toronto area and beyond.
What are the “Three Sisters”?
Traditionally, the 3 most important plant species to Iroquois culture:
- Maize
- Squash
- Tobacco
What socioeconomic factors have generally given rise to smuggling in the past?
Anywhere that is neglected by the government and economically deprived. Smuggling creates an integrated economy in these areas.
(Textbook) Besides the Americas, where else in the world possesses native tobacco plants?
There are a few species of tobacco plant that are native to Australia.
(Textbook) What is ambil? How is it used by humans?
A tobacco syrup/jelly that was prepared by South American native cultures that could either be licked off a stick or applied to the gums directly. (sounds like a great time…)
(Textbook) How are tobacco leaves processed for use in consumer products?
Go through a fermentation-and-drying process, then aged for several months (to years) before cutting and mixing in flavour additives.
(Textbook) Why did cigarettes become so much more efficient to produce in 1881?
A cigarette manufacturing machine was developed.
(Textbook) Compared with non-smokers, how much earlier do male smokers die? What about female smokers?
Male smokers: die 13 years earlier
Female smokers: die 14.5 years earlier
(Textbook) What health side effects have been observed from inhaling vape from e-cigarettes?
Increased inflammation, production of free radicals, compromised immune system, gives some germs greater resistance.
