Herbal Cigarettes

Why in News?

Recently, the IIT Gandhi Nagar - Illinois study revealed that herbal cigarettes no safer than tobacco.

• Herbal cigarettes – They are smoking products made from a mixture of herbs, flowers, and plant materials instead of tobacco.
• Common ingredients – They include, Rose petals, Lotus leaves, Mint, Ginseng, Jasmine, Green tea leaves and Clove.Combustion roducts – Burning any plant material produces harmful substances such as, Carbon monoxide, Tar, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

• Health concerns
• Respiratory effects – Smoke inhalation may irritate lungs and airways.
• Long-term exposure can affect respiratory health.
• False sense of safety – Users may believe herbal cigarettes are harmless and increase consumption.
• Second-hand smoke – Can expose nearby individuals to harmful particulate matter.
• Regulatory status – Many countries regulate herbal cigarettes under broader smoking-product laws.
• In India, regulations may fall under provisions related to smoking products and public health measures.

Findings of the recent study

• Emission of harmful particles – Herbal cigarettes emitted similar or higher levels of harmful particles and oxidative compounds compared to regular cigarettes.
• They produced about 20% more ultrafine particles (linked to heart and lung disease).
• Tested herbal products – It contained ingredients such as basil, clove, cinnamon, mint, green tea, chamomile, and water lily.
• Effect of tendu leaves – Tendu leaf-wrapped herbal cigarettes showed nearly 49% higher oxidative potential, indicating a greater ability to cause inflammation and tissue damage.

Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon), often termed “Green Gold”, is a Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) predominantly used for wrapping beedis (hand-rolled cigarettes).

Reference

The Hindu| Herbal Cigarettes