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Biomedical subjects

Nigel Gray

Publications and source records attributed to Nigel Gray.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The consequences of the unregulated cigarette.

This article considers changes in cigarette design in relation to the concept of "dose", drawing attention to the observation that there is not one smoking related epidemic of lung cancer, but at least two. Squamous carcinoma is declining in parallel with smoking prevalence while adenocarcinoma is increasing in the face of declining smoking prevalence. It is concluded that the adenocarcinoma epidemic is unnecessary and is due substantially to cigarette design changes, including increases in tobacco specific nitrosamines, manipulation of droplet size and ventilated filters. The need for regulation of smoke constituents is emphasised.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

The ethics of policies for the prevention of tobacco disease.

Public Health policy is widely assumed to be ethical. However, the field of tobacco control is extremely complex and opportunities to reduce the disastrous amount of harm caused by tobacco smoking involve taking calculated risks. These risks are avoided by doing nothing. However, doing nothing means accepting the status quo. More effective application of policies aimed at attaining abstinence from tobacco via prevention of initiation and promotion of cessation is needed. The development of other opportunities for harm reduction pose ethical challenges because they involve taking risks and thus may breach the basic ethics principle of doing no harm. These opportunities include consideration of regulating the smoke of tobacco products, of accepting more widespread use of Snus, the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in continual smokers, the acceptance of the concept of recreational addictive 'clean' nicotine, the regulation and acceptance of potential reduced exposure products (PREPs) and more widespread use of existing NRT. The experience with low tar cigarettes is presented as a cautionary tale.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

A global approach to tobacco policy.

The battle to control lung cancer has been an outcome of policies established over the years, largely since the 1960s. Early policies focussed on abolition of tobacco promotion, help in cessation of smoking, health warnings and labeling with tar and nicotine yields, public education, reduction of tar and nicotine yields, increases in tax and prevention of sales to minors. Over time the advent of nicotine replacement therapy, earmarking of tax for health purposes and counter-advertising became part of this policy. Over time the low tar policy delivered some but not all the benefits expected and the reasons for this are described. Modern approaches now feature regulation of the product with a reduction in the amounts of carcinogens and toxins in the smoke, a new measurement system for nicotine, a discussion of the options for nicotine policy and reduction of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Health Education↗