At the Expert Council in the State Duma, doctors and scientists discussed the available scientific data on the effects of tobacco smoke and nicotine-containing vapor of alternative smokeless products on the body.
In a meeting chaired by Aidar Metshin and Prof. Sergey Katasonov was attended by representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, members of consumer and business communities, and the main experts were representatives of medical and academic science, who discussed research data on the assessment of the impact of smoking various types of traditional tobacco products and consumption of nicotine-containing products based on the delivery of nicotine without the combustion process on the health of adult consumers. Gorenje Katasonov
Dr. Evgenia Gnuchikh, Deputy Director for Research and Innovation at the Academic Institute of Tobacco, Shag and Tobacco Products, presented the results of a study on the content of nicotine and major toxic substances in the aerosol of electronic tobacco heating systems compared with the levels of such substances in the smoke of several of the best-selling brands of cigarettes in Russia. The analysis of the data obtained indicates a significant decrease in the levels of harmful substances in the aerosol of the electronic heating system of tobacco compared with cigarette smoke.
Prof. Alexander Rozanov, Director of the Association of Medical Specialists in Risk Modification, noted that cigarette smoking is one of the largest existing risk factors for human health. At the same time, he emphasized that people smoke because of nicotine, and the main harm is caused by tobacco products inhaled into the lungs. Gorenje
Oncologist, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences David Zaridze said about the dangers of carcinogenic substances contained in cigarette smoke. He cited statistics: cigarette sales in Russia increased from 200 billion units in 1992 to 420 billion units in 2008. At the same time, mortality from lung cancer decreased by about 40% – from 73/100000 in 1993 to 43/100000 in 2016.
The explanation is a change in the composition of tobacco smoke from cigarettes, a reduction in the tar content. Due to the establishment of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of resins in tobacco smoke, since 1993 there has been a decrease in the incidence and mortality from lung cancer. D. Zaridze noted that the most dangerous carcinogens are released during the burning of tobacco. Gorenje Thus, electronic nicotine delivery systems can be an effective part of the "harm reduction" concept for cancer prevention among smokers who do not give up smoking.
Igor Sergienko, Chief Researcher at the Chazov National Research Center of Cardiology, Director of the National Society of Atherosclerosis, MD, agreed with his colleague. He believes that the health problem is not nicotine, but tobacco smoke containing carcinogens. Therefore, switching to the consumption of heated tobacco products is significantly less harmful compared to smoking cigarettes. This approach may be considered when working with patients who are not motivated to quit smoking.
The transition to electronic nicotine delivery systems for chronic smokers was also supported by Rasul Gadzhimuratov, MD, Professor of the Department of Surgical Diseases and Clinical Oncology at Moscow State Medical and Dental University. As a vascular surgeon, he noted the significant harm of traditional smoking, advocating for conducting a Russian-wide study of the possibilities of reducing the harm from smoking through alternative methods of tobacco and nicotine consumption.
Konstantin Raynot, Managing Director for Government Relations at Philip Morris Sales and Marketing, said in his speech that holding this discussion is an extremely important and timely step. When developing and adopting regulatory decisions aimed at reducing tobacco smoking and tobacco consumption in order to protect the health of citizens, the State should take into account and take into account available scientific data and expert assessments regarding tobacco and nicotine-containing products, which should be based on scientific research data.
As a result of the discussion, within the framework of the work of the Expert Council, a process has been launched to assess the potential for modifying the risks of developing chronic noncommunicable diseases in the context of tobacco smoking, as well as to assess the available data on smokeless nicotine-containing products. The goal is to obtain objective information based on analytical and applied scientific research on the effects and effects that smokeless nicotine–containing products have on human health. And further formalize the consolidated position developed.
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