Tobacco

Question 1

To which plant family does the tobaco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) belong?

Answer 1

The solanaceae family (tomato, pepper, etc.)

Question 2

What fitness advantage does nicotine production provide for the plant?

Answer 2

It acts as a natural insecticide.

Question 3

How does nicotine affect humans? What about insects? What kind of biomolecule is it?

Answer 3

An alkaloid with neurophysiological stimulating effects in both humans and insects.

Question 4

What are some reasons why smoking could be considered a positive habit?

Answer 4

1. Socially complex
2. Many marketable forms
3. Hunger suppressant

Question 5

What are 5 reasons why smoking could be considered a negative habit?

Answer 5

1. Increased risk of cancer
2. Negative effect of circulation
3. Costs of smoking borne by non-smokers
4. Secondhand smoke effects
5. Smells bad and gives terrible breath

Question 6

What are the 4 main marketable forms of tobacco in order of invention?

Answer 6

1. Pipe tobacco
2. Snuff tobacco
3. Cigarettes/cigars
4. Chewing tobacco

Question 7

How does tobacco act as a hunger suppressant?

Answer 7

By inhibiting lipoprotein lipases responsible for fat production.

Question 8

What colonial nation is responsible for developing the various forms of marketable tobacco?

Answer 8

The Dutch.

Question 9

What is considered to be the largest cash crop in the world?

Answer 9

Tobacco.

Question 10

How many people are employed by the tobacco industry?

Answer 10

~ 100 million people.

Question 11

What makes tobacco a more efficient cash crop than coffee or others?

Answer 11

Occupies a smaller portion of arable land.

Question 12

Where in the world is the prevalence of smoking still on the rise? Is this a worldwide trend?

Answer 12

Africa and the Middle East. Worldwide trend because large increase in these areas offsets reduction in others.

Question 13

How many smokers are there estimated to be in the world?

Answer 13

~1 billion.

Question 14

What percentage of adults smoked in 1960? What about today?

Answer 14

1960: 65% of adults smoked
Today: <17% of adults smoke

Question 15

How many cigarettes are consumed by the average smoker per year?

Answer 15

5000.

Question 16

How does the government take advantage of the tobacco industry?

Answer 16

It takes a large portion of tobacco sales as a source of tax revenue (“sin tax”).

Question 17

What are the 2 types of taxes? How much return does the government get for each?

Answer 17

1. Manufacturing tax ($)

2. Consumer tax ($$$)

Question 18

How are taxes on cigarettes avoided? What percentage of the world’s cigarettes does this apply to?

Answer 18

Smuggling, ~10% of the world’s cigarettes are distributed this way.

Question 19

What percentage of New York city’s cigarettes had been smuggled in 2018?

Answer 19

~50%!

Question 20

Describe “Tobacco road”. Why did this come to be?

Answer 20

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…

Question 21

What is meant by “butt-legging”?

Answer 21

Bootlegging, but for tobacco (obviously). Running goods against a tax gradient.

Question 22

What is the Jay treaty and what does it allow?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

What are the “Three Sisters”?

Answer 23

Traditionally, the 3 most important plant species to Iroquois culture:

1. Maize
2. Squash
3. Tobacco

Question 24

What socioeconomic factors have generally given rise to smuggling in the past?

Answer 24

Anywhere that is neglected by the government and economically deprived. Smuggling creates an integrated economy in these areas.

Question 25

(Textbook) Besides the Americas, where else in the world possesses native tobacco plants?

Answer 25

There are a few species of tobacco plant that are native to Australia.

Question 26

(Textbook) What is ambil? How is it used by humans?

Answer 26

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…)

Question 27

(Textbook) How are tobacco leaves processed for use in consumer products?

Answer 27

Go through a fermentation-and-drying process, then aged for several months (to years) before cutting and mixing in flavour additives.

Question 28

(Textbook) Why did cigarettes become so much more efficient to produce in 1881?

Answer 28

A cigarette manufacturing machine was developed.

Question 29

(Textbook) Compared with non-smokers, how much earlier do male smokers die? What about female smokers?

Answer 29

Male smokers: die 13 years earlier

Female smokers: die 14.5 years earlier

Question 30

(Textbook) What health side effects have been observed from inhaling vape from e-cigarettes?

Answer 30

Increased inflammation, production of free radicals, compromised immune system, gives some germs greater resistance.