Experts suggest that the Government should take further drastic measures to prevent cigarettes smuggling to ensure health for people, especially pregnant women (Illustrative photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Exposure to high amounts of toxic coumarin,found in smuggled cigarettes coming into the country in recent years, raisesthe risk of several birth defects or even miscarriage, health experts warn.
Dr Nguyen Thi Tu Van, former lecturer of the HCM City University of Medicineand Pharmacy, said “Many international studies have shown that if pregnantwomen, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, are exposed to toxicsubstances including coumarin via inhalation and ingestion when living in anenvironment with these substance, then their child in the womb is at risk ofbirth defects such as minor neurological dysfunction, cerebral retardation andhand, foot, and eye abnormalities."
Many countries in the world have banned using coumarin in food and cigarettes,she said, adding that the Vietnam Ministry of Health also does not allow itsuse in food.
However, it is found in smuggled cigarettes in the country, Nguyen Dinh Truong,head of the Vietnam Tobacco Economic Technical Institute, said at a workshop onthe harm that smuggled cigarette pose for the health of pregnant women andfoetus on September 22 held by the Centre for Assistances for Women andReproductive Health Cares under the Vietnam Women’s Union.
Truong expressed concern about the rapid increase of smuggled cigarettes.
During 2013 and 2016, between 17 and 18 billion cigarettes were smuggled intothe country, Truong said.
According to the Vietnam Tobacco Association, the smuggled cigarettes accountfor more than 20 percent of the country’s total market, leading to a loss ofaround 10 trillion VND (440 million USD) to the State budget every year.
Ninety percent of smuggled cigarettes were JET and HERO, Truong said, addingthat he and his colleagues took samples of these brands for analysing.
The results showed that the coumarin content in these brands were high. Thecoumarin content in JET cigarettes was 76.3 ppm and 98.7ppm in HERO cigarettes,Truong said, and adding that coumarin existing in illegally imported cigarettesis used to make the cigarettes stronger and more flavorful. By doing so, themanufacturers aim to increase consumption of their products despite harmsto local smokers, particularly pregnant women.
According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, tolerable dailyintake is 0.1 miligramme per kilogramme of body weight.
According to him, the increase of smuggled cigarettes is due to their higherprofit margins.
He suggested that the Government should take further drastic measures toprevent cigarettes smuggling to ensure health for people, especially pregnantwomen.
Van said that banning the consumption of smuggled cigarettes would be the bestpreventive method.
Pregnant women should go to health facilities for ultrasounds to detect birthdefects, she advised.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Centre for Assistances for Women andReproductive Health Cares, said that the Vietnam Women’s Union carried out manyprogrammes to improve awareness of the risks of cigarettes as well as coumarinto the health of pregnant women and foetuses.-VNA
Dr Nguyen Thi Tu Van, former lecturer of the HCM City University of Medicineand Pharmacy, said “Many international studies have shown that if pregnantwomen, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, are exposed to toxicsubstances including coumarin via inhalation and ingestion when living in anenvironment with these substance, then their child in the womb is at risk ofbirth defects such as minor neurological dysfunction, cerebral retardation andhand, foot, and eye abnormalities."
Many countries in the world have banned using coumarin in food and cigarettes,she said, adding that the Vietnam Ministry of Health also does not allow itsuse in food.
However, it is found in smuggled cigarettes in the country, Nguyen Dinh Truong,head of the Vietnam Tobacco Economic Technical Institute, said at a workshop onthe harm that smuggled cigarette pose for the health of pregnant women andfoetus on September 22 held by the Centre for Assistances for Women andReproductive Health Cares under the Vietnam Women’s Union.
Truong expressed concern about the rapid increase of smuggled cigarettes.
During 2013 and 2016, between 17 and 18 billion cigarettes were smuggled intothe country, Truong said.
According to the Vietnam Tobacco Association, the smuggled cigarettes accountfor more than 20 percent of the country’s total market, leading to a loss ofaround 10 trillion VND (440 million USD) to the State budget every year.
Ninety percent of smuggled cigarettes were JET and HERO, Truong said, addingthat he and his colleagues took samples of these brands for analysing.
The results showed that the coumarin content in these brands were high. Thecoumarin content in JET cigarettes was 76.3 ppm and 98.7ppm in HERO cigarettes,Truong said, and adding that coumarin existing in illegally imported cigarettesis used to make the cigarettes stronger and more flavorful. By doing so, themanufacturers aim to increase consumption of their products despite harmsto local smokers, particularly pregnant women.
According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, tolerable dailyintake is 0.1 miligramme per kilogramme of body weight.
According to him, the increase of smuggled cigarettes is due to their higherprofit margins.
He suggested that the Government should take further drastic measures toprevent cigarettes smuggling to ensure health for people, especially pregnantwomen.
Van said that banning the consumption of smuggled cigarettes would be the bestpreventive method.
Pregnant women should go to health facilities for ultrasounds to detect birthdefects, she advised.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Centre for Assistances for Women andReproductive Health Cares, said that the Vietnam Women’s Union carried out manyprogrammes to improve awareness of the risks of cigarettes as well as coumarinto the health of pregnant women and foetuses.-VNA
VNA
