Contents
Welcome to The Tobacco Cosmos! Here you’ll find everything you need to know about tobacco, from its history and origins to its many uses today. We’ll also explore the latest research on the health effects of tobacco use, and offer advice on quitting if you’re looking to kick the habit. So pull up a chair and stay awhile – there’s a lot to learn about this fascinating plant!
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Introduction
Tobacco is a plant that is native to the Americas. It is widely cultivated and smoked around the world. Tobacco has been used for centuries by indigenous people for ceremonial and medicinal purposes.
Tobacco contains nicotine, a potent alkaloid that is addictive and harmful to human health. Tobacco smoke increases the risk of cancer, lung disease, and other illnesses. Quitting smoking is the best way to reduce the risks associated with tobacco use.
The tobacco cosmos (Nicotiana sylvestris) is a species of tobacco that is native to South America. It is closely related to common tobacco (N. tabacum) and wild tobacco (N. rustica). The tobacco cosmos has large, showy flowers that are pink, white, or purple in color. The plant grows to a height of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 m).
The leaves of the tobacco cosmos are used to make cigars and cigarettes. The flowers are used in floral arrangements and as an ornamental plant in gardens.
The tobacco cosmos is classified as a noxious weed in some areas due to its potential for invasiveness. It should be planted with caution in areas where it is not native.
The History of Tobacco
Tobacco has been around for centuries, and its history is full of interesting facts and quirks. For example, did you know that tobacco was once used as currency? Or that it was once believed to have medicinal properties? In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of tobacco, from its earliest uses to the present day.
Pre-Columbian America
Pre-Columbian America was home to many different cultures, each with their own customs and beliefs. One of the most common crops grown throughout the region was tobacco. Tobacco was cultivated for both ceremonial and medicinal purposes, and its use was considered sacred by many indigenous peoples.
Tobacco became an important trade good after the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. The first recorded sale of tobacco took place in 1517, when Spanish explorer Vasco da Gama sold a large quantity of the crop to the ruler of Portugal. This marked the beginning of a global tobacco trade that would eventually make its way to every corner of the globe.
Today, tobacco is grown in more than 60 countries and consumed by over one billion people worldwide. It is still an important part of many cultures and continues to be used for both ceremonial and medicinal purposes.
The British Empire
The British Empire was one of the most powerful empires in history. At its peak, it controlled a territory that was larger than any other empire that had ever existed. The British Empire was responsible for introducing tobacco to many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The first recorded mention of tobacco in Britain is from a doctor who wrote about treating a patient with tobacco smoke in 1556. Tobacco use spread rapidly among the British aristocracy and was introduced to the royal court by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1586. Raleigh is also credited with introducing tobacco to North America.
Tobacco became so popular in Britain that by the early 1600s, there were nearly 2,000 tobacco shops in London alone. Tobacco use was so common that it was even mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays.
The British government began to tax tobacco in 1660, and the first anti-tobacco laws were passed in 1665. These laws banned smoking in public places and prohibited the sale of tobacco to minors. However, these laws were not strictly enforced and tobacco use continued to be widespread.
In 1774, parliament passed a law that made it illegal to grow tobacco in Britain. This law was intended to reduce the country’s dependence on imported tobacco from the American colonies. However, it had the unintended consequence of making smuggling cigarettes into Britain a lucrative business.
During the 19th century, smoking became increasingly popular among all social classes in Britain. In 1820, there were only 10 million smokers in Britain; by 1900, there were over 50 million smokers. Cigarette smoking did not become common among women until after World War I.
Today, smoking is on the decline in Britain. According to data from 2016, only 15% of adults smoke cigarettes; this is down from 20% in 2010 and 40% in 1980. Despite this decline, smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in Britain
The United States
In the United States, tobacco was first used by the native people of North and South America. For centuries, it was an important part of their religious and cultural ceremonies. In the 1600s, tobacco became popular among Europeans, who smoked it in pipes or chewed it. By the early 1800s, tobacco was a major crop in the United States, and smoking cigarettes became common.
Today, tobacco use is still widespread in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 5 adults in the US smokes cigarettes. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year.
The Cultivation of Tobacco
The tobacco plant is a tall, annual herb that is native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the world. Tobacco plants can grow to be over six feet tall, and they have large, broad leaves. Tobacco is grown in countries all over the world, and it is an important crop for many farmers.
The Plant
Tobacco is an annual plant of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. It is a herbaceous, erect plant that grows to a height of about 2 metres (6.6 ft). The leaves are long, oval and contains nicotine. Tobacco is indigenous to the Americas but it is now cultivated in many countries around the world.
Tobacco plants are started from seeds. They are planted in nurseries and then transplanted to the fields when they are about 30 cm (12 in) tall. The plants are usually spaced about 90 cm (3 ft) apart and allowed to grow until they flower. The flowering tobacco plant produces small, white flowers that turn into large green seed pods. Each pod contains about 20-30 seeds.
The Soil
Tobacco is an annual plant, meaning it completes its life cycle—from seed to flower to fruit (the tobacco leaf)—within one growing season. In the Northern Hemisphere, tobacco is typically planted in late April or early May and harvested between September and October. But the actual time of planting and harvesting varies depending on the region where the tobacco is grown.
For instance, in Canada’s Niagara Peninsula, where most of the country’s tobacco is planted, growers start their plants indoors in late February or early March. The young plants are then moved outside and transplanted into fields in late April or early May.
In contrast, growers in Kentucky plant their tobacco seedlings directly into fields in late April or early May.
No matter when they are planted, all tobacco plants require warm weather and plenty of sunlight to grow properly. They also need a lot of water—about an inch (2.5 centimeters) a week—during the early part of their growing season. Too much water, however, can be just as harmful as too little.
The Climate
Tobacco requires a hot, humid climate with well-drained sandy loam soils rich in organic matter. Depending on the type of tobacco, day temperatures between 21 and 27°C are ideal, while night temperatures should remain above 10°C. Tobacco will not tolerate frost and transplanting should only be done when all danger of frost has passed and temperatures have stabilized. For some varieties, direct seeding in the field is possible.
Plants require a lot of water, especially during the early stages of growth when they are establishing their root systems. irrigation should be done regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Tobaccos are generally heavy feeders and will require large amounts of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, to produce a good crop.
The Uses of Tobacco
Tobacco is a common name for several species of plants in the Nicotiana genus and the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, and for the product manufactured from them. Tobacco plants are annual, herbaceous, erect, sprawling, and stemless perennials reaching up to 2.5 m (8 ft) tall. They have large, broad leaves. Most tobaccos contain the alkaloid nicotine.
Smoking
Smoking is the most common use of tobacco. People smoke tobacco in cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and hookahs (waterpipes). They also smoke it in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with a mixture of marijuana or other drugs.
Cigarettes are by far the most common form of smoking tobacco. In the United States, about 1 out of every 3 adults smokes cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is more common among men than women and among people with less education. It is also more common among American Indians and Alaska Natives than other racial/ethnic groups.
Cigar smoking has gone up and down over the years. In the early 1900s, cigar smoking was much more common than it is now. Today, cigar smoking is most common among men and people with higher incomes.
Pipe smoking has declined sharply since the early 1900s. It is now most common among older men.
Chewing
Tobacco has been used in a variety of ways throughout history. Chewing tobacco is one of the oldest methods of consuming tobacco leaves. The practice likely began with the indigenous people of North and South America and was later adopted by European settlers. Chewing tobacco is still popular today, especially among certain groups such as farmers and outdoor workers.
Chewing tobacco typically comes in the form of loose leaves, plugs, or twists. The tobacco is placed in the mouth and held between the cheek and gum. It can be chewed like gum or slowly sucked on like a candy. The nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth, making it a particularly potent form of tobacco use.
In addition to causing nicotine addiction, chewing tobacco has a number of other adverse health effects. It increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas. It can also lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Chewing tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes.
Snuff
Snuff is a form of powdered tobacco that is sniffed through the nose. It originated in Europe in the 16th century and was very popular during the Victorian era. Today, it is still used by some people as an alternative to smoking.
sniffing snuff can cause a number of health problems, including nosebleeds, headaches, and even cancer of the nose and throat.
Pipe
Pipe tobacco is widely varied in style and taste. The two main types are English and aromatic. English tobacco is typically dryer and more strongly flavoured, while aromatic tobaccos are moist, sweet or fruity.
There are many ways to smoke pipe tobacco. The most common is to fill a pipe bowl with tobacco and then light it with a match or a lighter, drawing the smoke through the stem into the mouth. This method is known as “draw smoking.”
Another way to smoke pipe tobacco is to “pack” it into the bowl of the pipe. This method involves gently pressing the tobacco into the bowl with a tamper, then lighting it with a match or lighter and drawing the smoke through the stem into the mouth.
Pipe tobaccos can also be smoked in a “free-hand” style, by cupping the bowl of the pipe in one hand and lighting it with the other. The smoker then draws on the stem as usual.
Cigars
Cigars are often enjoyed by those who appreciate the slow burn and flavor of tobacco. They are usually made with natural tobacco leaves, which are hand-rolled and then left to age in order to develop their flavor. The result is a smooth, flavorful smoke that is meant to be savored.
Cigars are generally larger than cigarettes and have a much thicker size. They can be enjoyed in a number of ways, including being smoked whole, or being cut up and smoked in a pipe or bong. Many people also enjoy chewing on cigarillo leaves, which gives them a nicotine hit without having to actually smoke the cigar.
Cigars come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, which can affect the flavor profile as well as the smoking experience. The most common shapes are parejos (cylindrical), figurados ( tapered or unusual shapes), and panetelas (long and thin).
Some of the most popular cigar brands include Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and H Upmann.
Cigarettes
Cigarettes are by far the most common form of tobacco consumed worldwide. In the United States, cigarettes are usually smoked by men and women over the age of 18. Cigarettes are also smoked by people of all ages in other countries.
Cigarettes are typically made from a tobacco blend of 58% percent tobacco and 42% other substances, according to the American Lung Association. The other substances in cigarettes include chemicals that add flavor and make the smoke easier to inhale.
Smoking cigarettes is linked to numerous health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
The Health Effects of Tobacco
Short-Term Effects
The immediate effects of smoking tobacco include a rapid increase in heart rate and blood pressure, constriction of blood vessels, and increased exposure to carcinogenic substances. These changes lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. Smoking also decreases the oxygen supply to the tissues, leading to cell damage and increased risk of cancer. smokers are also at greater risk for developing chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases.
Long-Term Effects
While the short-term effects of tobacco use are well known, the long-term effects are often underestimated. Tobacco use can lead to a number of serious health problems, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases.
Cancer
Tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer in the United States. Cigarette smoking accounts for more than 480,000 deaths each year, including more than 41,000 deaths from lung cancer. Smoking also increases the risk for a number of other types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, and cervix.
Heart disease and stroke
Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking increases the risk for coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (which leads to strokes), and peripheral vascular disease (which leads to blood vessel problems).
Respiratory diseases
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD—a group of conditions that damage the lungs and airways. The most common form of COPD is emphysema—damage to the tiny air sacs in your lungs—and chronic bronchitis—inflammation and irritation of your bronchial tubes. Cigarette smoking also increases your risk for lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.
The Economic Impact of Tobacco
The Tobacco industry is a trillion-dollar industry that is responsible for the livelihoods of millions of people around the world. It is also one of the most controversial industries, with health advocates and governments waging a long-running battle against its harmful effects. In this article, we will take a look at the economic impact of tobacco.
The Tobacco Industry
The tobacco industry generates huge profits while causing devastating health consequences for consumers and enormous social and economic costs for society.
In 2014, the top six publicly-traded tobacco companies had revenues of US$351 billion. Philip Morris International, the largest company, had revenues of US$80 billion. British American Tobacco, the second largest company, had revenues of US$27 billion. Japan Tobacco, the third largest company, had revenues of US$24 billion. Imperial Brands (formerly Imperial Tobacco), the fourth largest company, had revenues of US$24 billion. Reynolds American (which acquired Lorillard in 2015), the fifth largest company, had revenues of US$23 billion. Lastly, Altria (which spun off Philip Morris USA in 2008), the sixth largest company, had revenues of $17 billion.
The tobacco industry also has numerous other interests in addition to cigarettes, including cigars, pipe tobacco, snus, electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”), heat-not-burn products (“HNB” or “heat sticks”) and other nicotine delivery products such as chewing tobacco and moist snuff. In 2014, Philip Morris International sold 805 billion cigarettes globally while British American Tobacco sold 697 billion cigarettes globally. However, Philip Morris International also sold 76 million HNB products and British American Tobacco sold 453 million HNB products in 2014.
The health consequences of smoking are well known and devastating. Smoking is responsible for an estimated 6 million deaths each year worldwide, including approximately 600 thousand deaths among nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure. In the United States alone, smoking is responsible for more than 480 thousand deaths each year – about 1 in 5 deaths overall – including more than 41 thousand annual deaths from secondhand smoke exposure
Tobacco growers
The economic impact of tobacco is significant, with tobacco growers and tobacco product manufacturers around the world generating billions of dollars in revenue each year. In addition to the revenue generated from tobacco sales, the tobacco industry also provides employment for millions of people.
Tobacco is grown in more than 60 countries, with the majority of tobacco production taking place in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The United States is the fourth largest tobacco producer in the world.
Tobacco growing is a labor-intensive process, with farmers typically working long hours to harvest the leaves. In many countries, tobacco farming is done by small-scale farmers who may not have access to modern equipment or farm inputs. This can make it difficult for them to compete with larger scale growers who can produce tobacco more efficiently.
Tobacco products are manufactured by a number of different companies around the world. The three largest tobacco companies are Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, and Japan Tobacco. These companies control a large share of the global tobacco market.
The economic impact of tobacco use is not just limited to those involved in the production and sale of tobacco products. Tobacco use also has a significant economic impact on economies around the world through its toll on public health. Tobacco use is a leading cause of death and disease globally, with an estimated six million people dying each year from smoking-related illnesses. Treatment for smoking-related diseases costs billions of dollars each year, placing a strain on healthcare systems around the world.
The Future of Tobacco
Tobacco is a plant that is native to the Americas and was introduced to the Old World by Christopher Columbus. The tobacco plant is a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family. This family also includes the potato, tomato, and eggplant. Tobacco has been used in various forms by humans for centuries.
Tobacco Control
Tobacco Control is the leading international peer-review medical journal covering the nature and consequences of tobacco use worldwide. Tobacco Control aims to improve understanding of the tobaccp epidemic and its consequences, as well as to inform tobacco control policy and practice.
Tobacco Harm Reduction
Furthering the harm reduction approach, some public health experts have called for tobacco companies to develop and market so-called “reduced harm” products, such as cigarettes with filters that remove some of the harmful chemicals from smoke, or cigarettes that heat tobacco rather than burning it. These products would not be risk-free, but they would be less harmful than traditional cigarettes.
Tobacco companies have been reluctant to develop and market reduced harm products, for fear that doing so would admit that their traditional products are harmful. However, some companies are beginning to explore this possibility, and it is possible that reduced harm products will become more common in the future.
