Monday, April 4, 2011

Pig's blood, tobacco control and mass media

Pigs play an important role in the western culture, mostly as guests of honor in many meals. A less known role of pigs, or, to be precise, of pigs' blood (‘porcine haemoglobin’) is as part of what is called ‘biofilter’ in certain cigarette brands. Developed by Greek researchers, said 'biofilter' is supposed to make cigarette smoking healthier (it doesn't).


"Filters (so called “bio-filters”) with antioxidant compounds impregnated in active carbon canaffect only marginally the composition and toxicity of solid and gaseous phases of cigarette smoke."


Marketed as healthier, the BF helped the cigarette company SEKAP to become the second largest Greek cigarette manufacturer, with the BF cigarettes capturing 6% of the Greek market the month after they were launched. The company also export their cigarettes to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. By the time healthier smoking claims were outlawed by the Greek government, in 2002, the product already acquired a 'healthy' image.

An Australian organization decided, as part of a tobacco control project (funded by the cancer institute of New South Wales) to alert the media, through press releases, to several tobacco-related issues. They issued a press release in March 2010 ("New book on pig products reveals problems for Islamic, Jewish and vegetarian smokers"). It is important to note that at least in Australia, tobacco companies aren't obligated to reveal their cigarettes' ingredients.

As part of the research, the authors studied the coverage of the press release online. The story was covered all over the globe, including by the Daily Mail, the Calcutta News and even by The Colbert Report. The less thrilling part was that no media, except for an Israeli TV channel and a group of journalists one of the authors encountered during a visit to Indonesia, contacted the authors. They all based their coverage on a newswire (AAP) media release.

The pig blood's news created confusing, and author Simon Chapman received emails, mainly from Muslims, who wanted to know which cigarette brands were 'safe'. The the South African National Halaal Association issued an anti-smoking leaflet (fig. 1). The Iranians blamed 'the Zionists' for the 'tainted cigarettes'. Cigarette companies such as Japan Tobacco International, Philip Morris were quick to publish denials.



Overall, the authors consider 'unorthodox' framing was considered a success in alerting the public to the secretive nature of the tobacco companies and the lack of regulation on tobacco products. I think that for Orthodox Jews and Muslims it is another reason to stop smoking: I mean, dying of lung cancer and going to hell?!


Mackenzie R, & Chapman S (2011). Pig's blood in cigarette filters: how a single news release highlighted tobacco industry concealment of cigarette ingredients. Tobacco control, 20 (2), 169-72 PMID: 2117285

Valavanidis, A., Vlachogianni, T., & Fiotakis, K. (2009). Tobacco Smoke: Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Stable Free Radicals in Mechanisms of Oxidative Damage, Carcinogenesis and Synergistic Effects with Other Respirable Particles International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 6 (2), 445-462 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph6020445


This post was chosen as an Editor's Selection for ResearchBlogging.org

38 comments:

  1. Your articles make complete sense out of each topic.

    cheap cigarette

    ReplyDelete
  2. electronic cigarettes new south wales - Ecig-for-life the leading and most reputable name in electronic cigarettes at New South Wales, adelaide, sydney, melbourne, australia. Now a lot of advertisers who have answered that electronic cig are safer to use than their tobacco counterpart. But unfortunately there isn't much scientific reason to prove this that smokeless cigarettes are safer, even if they are. However still many people think and even it's studied that electronic cig may possibly be helpful in avoiding diseases that are generally attributed to tobacco smoking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you very much for keep this information.
    e cigs

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Admin,
    I browse your website, its actual impressive, I adulation it.
    I accept collectively this affiliated website.
    In the contempo years, the acceptance of e-cigs, e-hookahs and e-liquids are on a rise. In fact, a lot of bodies are in favor of these e-solutions. These stuffs accept bent the absorption of bodies globally.
    Cbd
    Best Regards
    Hannah Dyer

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is really a helpful blog to find some different source to add my knowledge. I came into aware of new professional blog and I am impressed with suggestions of author. Smoking pipes

    ReplyDelete
  6. You may have heard the claim that a few cigarettes contain pig's blood Assignment Writing Services while I've heard this claim various circumstances, not being a smoker I have never tried to investigate it until all the more as of late.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm Getting Excited About This Kind Of Beneficial Information Of Your Stuff In The Future

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Buddy, Your Blog' S Design Is Simple And Clean And I Like It. Your Blog Posts About Online Dissertation Help Are Superb. Please Keep Them Coming. Greets!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It’s very informative and you are obviously very knowledgeable in this area. You have opened my eyes to varying views on this topic with interesting and solid content things to do

    ReplyDelete
  10. Now think yourself about having Ludhiana escorts service through your desire but still actually it has nothing to do with it. There are thousands of individuals from all over the globe who still are looking for their spirit escorts.
    Escorts in Ludhiana
    Escorts in Dehradun
    Escorts in Jodhpur
    Escorts in Gurgaon
    Escorts in Noida
    Escorts in Chandigarh

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks Mate.
    I love The way you written this article.
    thank you for updating.
    If You want to replace your old G rated Boiler with a new one just Click Here

    ReplyDelete
  12. Delhi Escorts Offers More Than Just Sex Erotic Adventures
    Delhi Escorts the foremost beautiful private models reside here, don't you think? Then convince yourself! The models of the agency private models in delhi made it possible! They love sex and live it! Anyone can convince himself! They stand for High Class Delhi Escort.
    Delhi Escort Services
    Delhi Escorts

    ReplyDelete
  13. Along with his mentor and sponsor Joe Weider, Schwarzenegger deserves much of the credit for popularizing the use of resistance exercise for strictly aesthetic purposes. A two-hour workout daily should be OK if you're otherwise healthy and strong. There’s no such thing as “spot reduction” – except in media hype. It is physiologically impossible to lose fat in one specific area.


    Rhino Spark Male
    Xoth Keto BHB
    Insulux Comentarios
    Quick Flow Male Enhancement
    Keto Burn Advantage
    Keto GT Doctor Juan
    Xoth Keto BHB

    ReplyDelete
  14. You have a very good site, well constructed and very interesting i have bookmarked you hopefully you keep posting new stuff 경마

    ReplyDelete
  15. Really nice and interesting post. I was looking for this kind of information and enjoyed reading this one. 바카라사이트

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi! I just wish to give you a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I am coming back to your blog for more soon. 온라인경마

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello friends, I am__johncrew_________ by Profession I am an engineer and I work as a freelancer and provide solutions for settings and software slitted issues in iPhone or Android. People used to call me to ask about their issues such as aol mail settings for iPhone and I tried to provide a complete solution to their problems. If you are facing such issues and are not able to understand how I can fix them then you can connect to me.

    ReplyDelete
  18. DEE Assam Recrment 2021-9354 Assistant Teacher Vacancy in UP & LP School - Assam Tips Job Career

    Online applications are hereby invited from DEE, Assam i e https dee assam gov in for qualified in Assam TET conducted by Elementary Education Department,


    DEE Assam Recruitment

    ReplyDelete


  19. Assam Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)2021- For UP & LP Level - Assam Tips Job Career

    Teacher Eligibility Test TET 2021 for Lower Primary and Upper Primary levels for the state of Assam Online applications are invited to appear in Paper I Lower Primary and Paper II Upper Primary of TET are requested to apply before the closing date




    Assam TET Recruitment

    ReplyDelete

  20. Assam Police Final Date 15 06 2020 Brief Notification চুটি বিৱৰণ Assam Police has launched an employment notification for the recruitment to the


    Assam Police Recruitment

    ReplyDelete
  21. If you want to connect with right customers and promote your website via Online Marketing or Internet Marketing then choose SEO Service in Vadodara?

    Visit Us Now: SEO Company in Vadodara || SEO Agency in Vadodara

    ReplyDelete
  22. I stumble on this site when I was making research on my project topic. I found some useful topics in well detail form. Thanks for this excellent post 토토

    ReplyDelete
  23. Старые платформы hydra ссылка непременно публикуют своим пользователям большое количество поручений. Самое простое связаться с устойчивым исполнителем, чем длительное время выискивать нового, а после изучать другие условия тех.задания. Ставка проведения работ на площадках копирайта может существенно различаться.

    ReplyDelete
  24. There are dating services that only work inside a certain geographical area. This might be the beginning of a beautiful relationship with a brand-new person.

    ReplyDelete