2006年VOA标准英语-Report Shows Higher Levels of Nicotine in Cigar

By Melinda Smith
Washington, DC
01 September 2006
 
watch Nicotine¹ Study

Smoking a cigerette  
  
A report issued this week shows that major American tobacco companies have increased the level of nicotine in their cigarettes, making them more addictive².  VOA's Melinda Smith has that story.

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reports that nicotine levels of cigarettes sold in that state rose by an average of 10 percent during the period of 1998 to 2004.  Three of the most popular brands favored by younger smokers⁴, Marlboro, Newport and Camel, showed an increase of 12 per cent.  Kool, a menthol brand, had a nicotine level of 20 percent.  Another brand, called Doral Lights, measured a 36 percent increase.

A spokeswoman for Philip Morris, America's biggest cigarette manufacturer, told VOA Thursday the company is "reviewing the report and will have no comment at this time."

Stanton Glantz  
  
The report has generated a mixed reaction from anti-smoking and health experts.  Doctor Stanton Glantz is an anti-tobacco activist⁵, and professor at the University of California in San Francisco. He says, "I was shocked by the results of this report."

Other anti-smoking experts say they have reservations about the report. The point out that tar⁶ -- which actually contains the cancer-causing chemicals -- was not mentioned.  One health scientist said tobacco companies already have the technology to remove the nicotine entirely⁷ and produce a non-addictive cigarette, but have been unwilling⁸ to do so.

The nicotine in cigarettes is what alters the brain chemistry to want more.  Smokers say raising the nicotine levels is not fair.

One smoker³ said, "I think it is really deceptive⁹ and unnecessary.  It's just kind of strong-arming everybody to continue their bad habit whether they want to quit or not."

"Smoking is bad.  Don't smoke.  Don't smoke," said another smoker.

The World Health Organization reports tobacco is responsible for about five million deaths every year. It estimates the number of fatalities¹⁰ could double to 10 million each year by 2020. 

Tobacco use is a growing problem in developing countries, especially among the poor.  Chinese health officials are trying to promote a public awareness¹¹ campaign about the dangers of cigarettes to the estimated 350 million smokers in China.

 
Dr. Jeffrey Wigand
  
Anti-smoking activist Dr. Jeffrey Wigand told VOA he believes manufacturers are 'manipulating' nicotine levels to fit taste preferences in other countries.  Dr. Wigand is a former executive with the Brown & Williamson Tobacco company.  He was a U.S. government witness in a case accusing cigarette manufacturers of consciously adjusting nicotine levels to raise addiction¹².

" 'Hook 'em young.  Hook 'em for life.'  I heard that mantra day in and day out from the senior executives in the company I worked for," said the doctor.

Massachusetts is only one of three American states that require tobacco companies to furnish nicotine levels. 

The WHO Tobacco Free Initiative has called for stricter regulation of all forms of tobacco products worldwide. One anti-tobacco expert told VOA it is easy for tobacco companies to produce a cigarette that gets around any nicotine testing that countries may use.

1 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

2 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

3 smoker   

n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室

参考例句：

• His wife dislikes him to be a smoker.他妻子不喜欢他当烟民。
• He is a moderate smoker.他是一个有节制的烟民。

4 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。

5 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

6 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

9 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

10 fatalities   

n.恶性事故( fatality的名词复数 )；死亡；致命性；命运

参考例句：

• Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. 有几个人受伤，但没有人死亡。
• The accident resulted in fatalities. 那宗意外道致多人死亡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

12 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。