Fire-Safe Cigarettes: What's Making People Sick?

August 7, 2009

By Meghan Chavalier

I am a smoker. I have smoked for over 25 years. Yes, it's a nasty habit, but one that I just can't seem to let go of. But, the issue I want to write about today is what is actually in these new fire safe cigarettes?

I have never had smoker's cough, even though I'm a smoker. When the cigarettes changed, my health changed drastically. Now, I know some of you are saying to yourself, "Why doesn't she just quit?" It's not that easy, and if you're a smoker you know what I'm talking about.

I began coughing about a week after the great cigarette switch. I thought I had lung cancer until I started talking to other smokers, and then talking to owners of cigarette stores. 100% of smokers I talked to are experiencing the same problems I am. Young or old, they all have the same chronic cough that just doesn't seem to go away.

I want to know what is in the new paper that is causing this reaction in so many people in the 21 states where fire safe cigarettes are now sold? What isn't the government telling us about these new cigarettes that we need to know?

I'm normally not a person who follows conspiracy theories, but in this situation, I find myself wondering if this isn't a bigger solution to a problem that is out of control. That problem being that for years cigarette companies have told people that smoking wasn't bad for them, then to turn around and say it is bad for them. Is this a way of "snuffing" out the smoking population slowly?

I don't think it's absurd to think that our government knows something that rest of the smoking population doesn't.

Smokers were always told not to re-light a cigarette once it's gone out completely because the chemicals are much harsher than they were when you first lit your cigarette. Now, the government is telling us that if you're cigarette goes out it's okay to light it back up and keep smoking? Something is rotten, and I intend to find out what it is.

Now, before you get into your email and start writing me letters saying this has nothing to do with the LGBT Community, I just want to tell you, that many people in the LGBT Community are smokers and I'm sure they have the same questions I am having about fire safe cigarettes.

I would like to know what the number of fatalities are per year from a person falling asleep with a lit cigarette in their hand? Does it outweigh the number of actual smokers in our country, because if so I would have no problem with this new law, but I highly doubt that it does and it's just another attempt to cover up a much bigger problem that has obviously been brewing for years.

If anyone would like to send me a letter and tell me exactly what they believe is in the new cigarette paper that is making so many people sick across the country, please feel free to email me at stoppingthehate@aol.com.

Also, if you are one of the many people experiencing illness after smoking the new fire safe cigarettes please share your story with our readers by emailing the address above.

Readers Responses:

This video was sent in by Michael W.

 

 

Sent In By Renee

I am having propblems since fire safe cigarettes came out. I am coughing more and having lots more trouble breathing. The government does not care if a few thousand people get sick from this. Try proving it ...they will counter with smoking is bad for you anyway. A similar product aspartame is used in diet foods and sodas as a sweetener. This has been banned in several countries as it is cancer causing but as long as it makes a lot of money for companies who cares if thousands get sick or die. Prove it is their standard answer.

 

Sent In By Eric

Fireworks Accident Kills 5 Workers

An estimated 8,300 accidents occurred in 1997.
Thats the first statistic I found and will use that as abasis of comparison, Im sure its gone up in the last 12 years but this is a very general comparison so lets see what cigarette accidents are per year.

2,500.
Cigarette accidents account for 2,500 fire related accidents compared to nearly 8,500 caused by fireworks. And thats a year round statistic compared to a once a year statistic.

So where are the fire safe cigarette lawmakers?
They should be made endure boring fireworks if we must endure smoking Ethylene Vinyl Acetate.
So bring on the black snake fireworks, we want fire safe fireworks!
Given its high rate of accidents that occur only once a year how can this problem continue to be ignored?

Even sparklers cause way too many burns and they are perhaps the biggest problem children of the entire fireworks family. A typical sparkler can burn at temperatures up to 1,800 degrees. At this temperature even gold melts so imagine the close range effects on your skin and eyes.

So unless these lawmakers want to look like hypocrites, then either they will withdraw their law or they must pass this all important safety legislation. Because if their 4th of July entertainment is more important than half the countries health, then... what does that say about their values?

Dont do it for us, think of yourselves non-smokers.
Do you really want to be breathing 2nd hand vinyl smoke?
I didnt think so.

Pull the new papers immediately.
Or suffer the consequences.
The consequences being that Obama passes his social health care bill, and the cost ends up being ginormous once its scientifically proven that smoking vinyl isnt good for you and half the nation is sick from it.