A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

N

CH3N

What Is This?

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

What Is This?

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

N

CH3N

Nicotine

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Question

Have you every tried nicotine?

What were the immediate effects?

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Tobacco CEOs

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Fetal Effects

Chronic nicotine exposure to developing fetus Decreased birth weight Attention deficit disorder Cognitive impairment

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Withdrawal Effects

Restlessness Anxiety, hostility Irritability, impatience Difficulty concentrating Increased appetite

(weight gain) Depression

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Cotinine - Major metabolite Lung – First site of metabolism Liver – Major site Half-life – about 2 hours

Metabolism

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Low dose – Stimulation Binds nicotinic receptors (cholinergic)

High dose – Blocks receptors

Mechanism Of Action

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Mechanism Of Action

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Nicotine as Insecticide

Mimics the action of acetylcholine Muscle tremor Convulsions Death (respiratory paralysis)

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Don’t use tobacco Handle nicotine

insecticides carefully

Reducing Exposure

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Nicotine is toxic and addictive

Don’t Start

Summary

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

A Small Dose of Nicotine

Questions or Comments?

A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

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 Toxicology A Small Dose of Nicotine – 05/01/10

Authorship Information

For Additional Information ContactSteven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

E-mail: sgilbert@innd.orgWeb: www.asmalldoseof.org

This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology”