Tobacco-Related Disparities in Specific Populations

Research

Menthol cigarettes, race/ethnicity and biomarkers of tobacco use in US adults: The 1999-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention reveals differences in exposure to toxic agents among menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers. This study used data from 4,603 White, African American, and Mexican American smokers over 20 years old who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999-2010. Current menthol cigarette users were found to have higher blood concentrations of the known carcinogen and extremely toxic metal, cadmium. This study suggests that those who consume menthol cigarettes are at a higher risk for exposure to toxic materials compared to non-menthol cigarette smokers. Research shows that minorities are more likely to consume menthol cigarettes; therefore, education about the toxicity of menthol cigarettes may promote smoking cessation in minority populations. Click here to access the study abstract.

Impact of tobacco-related health warning labels across socioeconomic, race and ethnic groups: Results from a randomized web-based experiment
A recent study finds that pictorial health warning labels on cigarette packages have an impact across diverse racial/ethnic groups. A requirement of the U.S. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 was that tobacco packaging is to contain warning statements and pictorial images conveying the health risks of tobacco use. This web-based study examined the impact on U.S. adults from various racial/ethnic groups, education levels, and incomes of these new warning labels with pictorial images compared to text-only labels. Participants reported their reactions to either the new pictorial warning labels or text-only labels, and no significant differences were found in the reactions across various socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups. The results from this study show how policies mandating the use of pictorial health warning labels on tobacco products can have wide-reaching effects among diverse populations. Click here to read more about this research, or click here to view the full study, which was published in PLoS One.

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Reports

Tobacco Use: A threat to Minnesota's communities (MN)
ClearWay Minnesota has created a multilingual television program titled “The Harm of Commercial Tobacco in Our Community” that educates the diverse populations in Minnesota about the dangers of tobacco. Topics addressed by this program include the health effects of tobacco use, how immigrants and ethnic groups are targeted by tobacco companies’ marketing efforts, and smoking cessation. The program will broadcast in eight languages with representatives from several cultures candidly discussing the dangers of smoking. The most recent Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey reported that about 625,000 adults in Minnesota are current smokers, and there are 5,100 tobacco-related deaths in the state each year. Health officials believe this program has the potential to expand the reach of tobacco use prevention messages to underserved populations that are at the greatest risk of becoming tobacco users. Click here to read more.

Smoking key to closing racial gap in lung cancer (NE)
According to the American Cancer Society, high lung cancer rates among African Americans in Nebraska can be largely attributed to smoking. Lung cancer disproportionately affects African Americans in the state at an incidence rate 30% higher than whites. Additionally, lung cancer death rates among blacks are about 40% higher than among whites. While there are many causes of lung cancer, smoking is the main cause. Smoking rates among African American Nebraskans are about 22% compared to 16% among whites. The racial disparities in cancer incidence and death rates are attributed to gaps in income, access to healthcare, and the higher likelihood that African Americans smoke menthol cigarettes. Further research is needed to elucidate all of the reasons behind these health disparities, but researchers agree that reducing smoking is the best way to reduce disparities in lung cancer incidence. State tobacco control efforts have included a tobacco tax, promotion of the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline, and targeted outreach through local groups to address disparities. Click here to read more.

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