M.Tech. (Environmental Health) / Although evidence of the hazards of cigarette smoking has been in existence for many decades, millions of people around the world are still smoking, hundreds of thousands of teenagers take up smoking and the tobacco companies are allowed to continue promoting their products. To the annoyance of non-smokers, smoking is still allowed in many public places, such as restaurants and offices. This study serves, firstly, to provide an overview of the results of research on the dangers of smoking, nicotine addiction and passive smoking. Secondly, a self-completion questionnaire has been applied to a sample of students at eight technikons in South Africa. The questionnaire was designed to investigate the prevalence of smoking among the different population groups and genders to reveal some of the pattems of smoking of students, the factors influencing students' smoking status and to test students' beliefs, opinions and attitudes regarding smoking. The third objective of the study is to develop a theory on cigarette smoking and to propose anti-smoking measures at technikons. Researchers have produced conclusive proof that cigarette smoking is the cause of cancer, respiratory and heart disease and other diseases. Smoking maims and kills millions of people around the world annually and threatens the health of unborn babies and non-smokers, especially children. Tobacco companies apply the most sophisticated promotion techniques to persuade people to smoke and teenagers and certain other sectors' of the population are targeted by these activities. A study of nicotine addiction reveals that the need for this substance becomes as strong as any of man's basic physiological needs, such as those for food and water. This makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for many smokers to give up smoking. A multi-pronged strategy to combat smoking at education institutions is proposed, which includes health education and the banning of smoking on campuses.

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

Need for this investigation: The interest that has been aroused in the general public by the cigarette manufactures with their publicity claims, pro and con, as to the effects of their particular brand of cigarettes upon the emotional reaction of the smoker has offered the stimulus tor this research. Statement of problem: Physiological or psychological. The research reported here represents an experimental attempt to reveal the relationship between the physiological or psychological responses to smoking. The Thesis: Does smoking produce emotional relaxation? This report is an outgrowth of experiments of similar nature which have been completed in the past. The report covers the data from an experiment attempting to show some statistical evidence that there possibly is an emotional relaxation resulting from the smoking of a cigarette.

published_or_final_version / Pharmacology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A conditioning theory of tolerance postulates a mechanism of a conditioned compensatory response which both modulates the effect of the drug and produces cravings when the drug is not forthcoming. Using measures of heartrate and peripheral vasodilation the author investigated whether reactions opposite in direction to the effects of nicotine such as bradychardia and peripheral vasodilation could be elicited specifically with smokers who are presented with smoking-related stimuli. Due to confounding variables supportive data were not obtained. Recommendations are to conduct future experiments when there is a low differential temperature between the outside and inside, incorporating a more salient conditioned stimulus so control over the conditioned response could be stronger and including more subjects to aid statistical analysis.

A descriptive study of cigarette smoking in a sample of Indian matriculation students was undertaken in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal in order to establish the prevalence of cigarette smoking; reasons for developing cigarette smoking behaviour; to determine knowledge about and attitudes to cigarette smoking and also to establish students' awareness of antismoking organisations and to make recommendations based on the findings. Data was collected by the researcher who administered questionnaires at various schools previously under the jurisdiction of the House of Delegates, in the towns of Newcastle, Dannhauser, Glencoe and Dundee. There were 55 smokers in the sample (N =326), ie., a prevalence rate of 16,9%. Among the males 52 (36,1%) were smokers and 3 (1,8%) females smoked. Fifty four (98,2%) smokers had commenced smoking above the age of 10 years. Twenty seven (53%) smoked at home and 12 (24%) smoked at school. Experimentation occured among 46 (83,6%) smokers prior to actual smoking with 52 (94,5%) smokers having friends who also smoked. Advertisements influenced 10 (18,2%) smokers while 11 (20%) were influenced by teachers and 9 (16,7%) were influenced by family members. Smokers received more pocket money than non-smokers. More family members of the smokers were also smokers as opposed to non-smokers. Fourty nine (89,1%) smokers believed that smoking was harmful to themselves while 41 (74,5%) said it was also harmful to others. The association between smoking and lung cancer was well known by 49 (90,7%) smokers but the association with heart disease and other cancers was not as well known. There was very little awareness among both smokers and non-smokers about anti-smoking programmes and organisations. Alarmingly there was hardly any formal health education on the dangers of smoking in schools. The conclusions are that the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Indian matriculants in the study area was 16,9% and that teachers, friends, family members and advertisements are influential in cigarette smoking behaviour. There is a need for education on the dangers of smoking in schools; and parents and teachers must take congnisance about smoking at home and in schools. / Theses (M.Fam.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1995.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in 2,3-diphospho-glycerate concentrations among groups of smokers and nonsmokers, to determine relationships between 2,3-DPG concentrations and other blood parameters affecting oxygen transport, and to examine the effects of acute exercise on 2,3-DPG concentrations. Antecubital venous blood from each subject, before and after exercise, was analyzed for 2,3-DPG, hematocrit, hemoglobin and blood pH. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was calculated by dividing hemoglobin by hematocrit. Forty university-aged males constituted the sample population. Each subject was assigned to one of five groups, eight subjects per group, based on his status in relation to the variables of physical activity and cigarette smoking. The task consisted of one hour of exercise on a bicycle ergometer at a work rate producing a heartrate of approximately 150 beats per minute (70 per cent of maximal aerobic capacity). Blood samples were taken immediately prior to and immediately following the bout of exercise. A 12 hour fast preceded the work phase of the experiment. The hypotheses were: highly fit subjects have significantly higher 2,3-DPG concentrations and sedentary subjects have significantly lower 2,3-DPG concentrations than moderately fit subjects; smokers have significantly higher 2,3-DPG levels than nonsmokers; exercise produces significant increases in 2,3-DPG; negative relationships exist between 2,3-DPG levels and hemoglobin levels as well as between pre exercise 2,3-DPG levels and change of 2,3-DPG as a result of exercise. A priori orthogonal comparisons of pre exercise red cell 2,3-DPG levels indicated that differences between groups were not significant, i.e. highly fit groups did not demonstrate 2,3-DPG levels significantly higher, nor did sedentary groups demonstrate 2,3-DPG levels significantly lower than moderately fit groups. A definite trend towards higher 2,3-DPG levels was observed as training intensity increased, indicating that the hypothesis of physical training producing an increase in 2,3-DPG levels should not be totally rejected. Demonstration of differences in the carrying capacity of the blood, as reflected by differences in MCHC, hemoglobin and hematocrit, between groups appeared to be related to the trend observed in 2,3-DPG levels. Differences between smokers and nonsmokers in relation to 2,3-DPG concentrations were not significant,indicating that the hypoxia produced through cigarette smoking is not an important stimulator of 2,3-DPG production. Multivariate analysis of results indicated that 2,3-DPG levels were not significantly increased as a result of one hour of exercise at 70 per cent of maximal aerobic capacity. This is indicative of a slow-acting response mechanism affecting 2,3-DPG production, which requires more than one hour, or a more severe stress, to produce a physiological beneficial effect on oxygen transport by the blood. A significant negative correlation was observed between pre exercise levels of 2,3-DPG and hemoglobin levels. This was also reflected in the significant negative correlation between 2,3-DPG and hematocrit and 2,3-DPG and MCHC. A negative correlation was also observed between the change in 2,3-DPG and the change of MCHC that occurred as a result of exercise. The results are interpreted as showing a compensatory effect of 2,3-DPG in producing increased unloading of oxygen when the carrying capacity of the blood is reduced through a reduction in hemoglobin levels. An intimate relationship between 2,3-DPG and MCHC, tending to produce homeostasis in the position of the oxygen dissociation curve of hemoglobin, has been postulated. Changes in 2,3-DPG as a result of exercise were not related to the pre exercise concentration of 2,3-DPG indicating that change of 2,3-DPG is not significantly affected by the amount of 2,3-DPG present before physical activity is initiated. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

This thesis is an account of the response of the cigarette manufacturers to threats to their interests arising from the smoking and health issue. The purpose of the paper is to provide a case study of a Canadian interest group, and specifically, of a Canadian business group. The tobacco industry offers advantages as a subject because of the availability of published material on numerous facets of the smoking and health controversy, including a year of legislative hearings. As a case study, the paper is essentially descriptive rather than theoretical. It is divided into four chapters. The first chapter deals with the characteristics and strategic position of the industry, including the nature of the forces in opposition. The second chapter describes the government institutions concerned with the smoking and health issue and the access of the industry to these institutions. The third chapter describes the evolution of governmental policy and evaluates the effectiveness of the pressures, direct and indirect, brought to bear by the industry. The concluding chapter places the pattern of interaction between the industry and the government in a comparative perspective and suggests a categorization of the Canadian experience. It is hoped by this approach, rather than a chronological description, to describe with some thoroughness the forms of pressure or influence exerted by the industry on the policy-makers concerned with the issue in question. Three conclusions derive from the account. First, the main focus of activity was at the departmental level, though the Commons played a substantial role. Second, the industry operated from a position of strength by virtue of its economic position and the dependence of other groups on its welfare. Pressures from this position were a major force in preventing abrupt governmental interference with its commercial activities, despite the seriousness of the health issue. Third, the success and setbacks of the American tobacco industry influenced the course of events in Canada. It is suggested that these conclusions may have some general application to Canadian interest group theory, though their main reference is to the case study conducted. The study draws heavily on the hearings of the Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Social Affairs, publications of the Department of National Health and Welfare, publications of the industry, and Hansard. Officials in Ottawa provided information on a number of developments. Reports in the Globe and Mail and the Financial Post also proved valuable. Where appropriate, reference is made to studies of other Canadian interest groups and observations from interest group theory in general. The structure of the paper is to be a large extent inspired by the introductory chapter in Harry Eckstein's Pressure Group Politics, which emphasizes the manifold nature of pressure and the variety of factors determining its form and direction. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Regional pulmonary blood flow and volume was measured in ten rabbits anesthetized with pentobarbital (30 mg/kg). Tracheostomy was performed and catheters were placed into the jugular vein and carotid artery. The cardiac ⁹⁹mtc output was measured using the indicator-dilution technique using Tc labelled RBC followed by an injection of radiolabelled macroaggregates (MAA) to mark regional blood flow. Measurements were made both before and after either exposure to cigarette smoke (3 cigarettes for ten minutes at 4 puffs/minute) or sham exposure to air. The animals were sacrificed and the lungs were removed with the vessels tied. The lungs were then inflated and rapidly frozen over liquid nitrogen. The lungs were sampled into slices by vertical height, each slice was further sampled and then gamma counted for the injected isotopes. Regional pulmonary blood flow was calculated by setting the total lung MAA counts for each MAA equal to the cardiac output so that the sample flow was calculated as the fraction of sample counts to total counts times the cardiac output. The blood volume was marked by the labelled RBC and RBC transit was calculated as blood volume (ml) divided by blood flow (ml/sec). In a second series of experiments (N=10) , ⁵¹Cr PMN were injected as a bolus along with ⁹⁹mtc RBC in an indicator-dilution run. Following the injection of the cells, the blood flow was marked with MAAs and then the same sham or smoke treatments were given as in the previous experiments. At the end of ten minutes, the animals were sacrificed and the lungs were processed the same as before. Regional PMN retention was calculated as the [formula omitted]. The data show that smoke exposure increased pulmonary blood volume (p<.01), pulmonary transit time (p<C.05) and the ratio of lung blood volume to central blood volume (p <C-05) without changing central blood volume or cardiac output. Smoke exposure also caused a redistribution of blood flow from upper to lower lung regions (p <C-05). This lengthened the regional RBC transit times in all regions but particularly in the upper zones. These changes in RBC transit had no effect on PMN retention. We conclude that acute smoke exposure lengthens the RBC transit through the pulmonary circulation by increasing blood volume and redistributing blood flow. This change in red cell behavior was not associated with a consistent change in PMN retention in the lungs. / Medicine, Faculty of / Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy