The leading cause of fire deaths in American for the past 30
years has been cigarette fires as reported by National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA). Older smokers seem to be at the greatest risk. Senior
smokers die four times more than others, one in ten building fires with
fatalities that are caused by cigarettes end with the death of an older smoker.
Cigarette fires kill 700-900 people a year.
Many people are concerned about the manufacturing of
cigarettes, as the additives and chemicals in the design are deadly and many
are known carcinogens. Other ingredients and additives enhance the burning
rate. This is believed to be responsible for the high rate of fires by
cigarettes. Controversial additives in cigarettes include cyanide, benzene and
formaldehyde. Wood alcohol or methanol, acetylene (to fuel welding) and ammonia
are among the ingredients that have medical professionals and regulatory bodies
concerned. Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are also part of cigarette smoke.
Nicotine and tar are known elements that lead directly to health, addiction and
other risks. Tobacco leaves may have radioactive materials, the level and
severity of the radioactivity depends on the fertilizers and chemicals used in
growing the tobacco. Ammonium and sodium phosphate and sodium and potassium
citrate are added to cigarettes to keep the burn rate steady even when not
actively puffed.
There are cigarettes that reduce the likelihood of burning
if left unattended. The so called “fire safe” cigarettes, while tobacco
companies claim this is a misleading name, and that the cigarettes actually can
still start fires and will sometime burn long enough to catch flammable
materials on fire in nearby areas to where they are burning.
Fire safe cigarettes are designed to stop burning if left
unattended. Often manufacturers of cigarettes add thin bands of paper that is
less porous. This acts as a stop gap, slowing down the burn rate of the
cigarette. Once the cigarette burns to this point, if unattended it should self
extinguish. This will save lives, especially for senior citizens who may fall
asleep with a cigarette burning.
Part of the concern is the additives in cigarettes designed
to improve burn, but fire safe cigarettes are available. Tobacco companies are
not coming forward to self regulate the need to produce only fire safe
cigarettes, so in many cases legislation has been proposed to regulate the
production and manufacturing of fire safe brands of cigarettes. The lobbyists
have put time and effort in stopping the mandates, but in some states the fire
safe legislation has emerged in states like New York, California and Vermont
and Illinois and New Hampshire looking like they will follow suit. In many
cases, however the lobbyists have succeeded in stalling the regulations. This
resulted in a miss match of laws and regulations for tobacco companies.
Even though the manufacturers of cigarettes still claim the
fire safe cigarettes can be a hazard, independent research reports (National
Fire Protection Association) that fire safe cigarettes can reduce fires caused
by unattended cigarettes by 75%. In New York the initial findings after the
adoption of the fire safe legislation seems to support the National Fire
Protection Association findings as fatalities from cigarette fires were down a
third for the first six months post adoption of the new requirements.
Many people have looked to electronic cigarettes as an
alternative to the standard cigarette as a solution for the fire safety
concerns. Battery operated nicotine delivery systems are part of the electronic
cigarette design. The absence of the chemicals and additives of standard
cigarettes have given smokers the impression that the electronic cigarettes are
safer. The use of this substitute reduces the effects of the chemicals,
carcinogens and tars that have other associated risks. Electronic cigarettes do
not burn, which does make them less of a risk for fires.
Clearly the safest cigarettes are the ones never lit.
Cigarettes have serious health risks, and in many cases lead to devastating and
debilitating disease including emphysema, illness and death. If you don’t
smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, consider meeting with your medical
professional to create a cessation plan that will integrate support, new
behaviors, nicotine replacement and a network of resources to enhance your
potential for success in stopping smoking. This will ultimately reduce your
risk of cigarette based fires, health problems and fatal consequences from the
side effects of tobacco and cigarette smoking.